Against all odds || Stranger Things 4 | Hellcheer

Chapter 22

Eddie frowns, listening carefully as Dustin talks about his psychic friend that can open doors to an alternate world full of monsters. He's glad he didn't take the drugs, because he would have thought the whole thing was a hallucination.

"So..." says Chrissy, "you think Vecna is from that other world?"

Her tiny voice breaks his heart. He can't begin to imagine how she must feel. Because he's scared shitless, and he's not the one who has that monster creeping up in his nightmares!

"We think he's in there! See, we were at the murder house when he attacked today – "

"In the attic," add Robin, "because the house itself wasn't creepy enough apparently."

"Whatever, we were there and all our flashlights blew up!"

Eddie turns to Chrissy, sees the same puzzlement in her eyes.

"There's some sort of connection through light between our world and the Upside Down," explains Max before turning to Dustin. "If there was a surge in your flashlight, it means Vecan was acting from that attic, only from the Upside Down."

"That's the theory, yes!"

Eddie shakes his head. "So you're telling me, not only does that thing can get inside your head to remotely kill you, but it's doing it from another dimension?"

Harringhton nods approvingly.

"And your next question will be how do we get there," says Dustin smugly. Eddie would argue that this is not what's on his mind right now, but the boy is already bouncing on his chair and saying, "Well, Vecna's left the door open for us!"

Eddie exchanges another confused glance with Chrissy – who looks now pale as a sheet – and Nancy explains how they went back to Hawkins High this morning to look for old newspapers and try to find information on Victor Creel.

"There's a gate opening right where...where Fred died."

"I bet there'll be one in your trailer too," exclaims Dustin as if this is great news.

"Shit, do I need to warn my uncle?" chokes out Eddie.

He wasn't exactly proud of the idea of Wayne coming home to find a dead teenager and another one claiming Eddie was responsible for it. Now his uncle might be in danger and Eddie can't afford losing him!

"I don't think it's a good idea for you to go out at the moment," says Nancy with a wince.

"Yeah, the police might be looking for you," adds Robin.

Eddie looks down, miserable.

*

Chrissy isn't sure what to do with all these revelations. Fantasy worlds and monsters are fun when they're coming from Eddie's imagination, but this is something else! Part of her was expecting something out of the ordinary since the way Vecan attacked its victims was leaning heavily toward the paranormal. Yet, knowing this is the fourth time creatures from that Upside Down dimension are trying to invade their world - or whatever it is they are doing - is overwhelming, to say the least.

Eddie's foot rubs on hers and she meets his eyes. He looks as panicked as her. She would give anything to throw herself at his neck and let him carry her away from this room. Back to that spot up in the hills, so it can be just the two of them again and maybe...maybe if they love each other hard enough, if Eddie's care and protection casts away all the guilt and the bad thoughts from her mind, Vecna will lose the grip it has on her and she'll be safe.

Everybody is done eating, but Chrissy's burger is getting cold on her laps. She was hungry, but her appetite has been washed out by the combination of learning about the Upside Down and hearing her mother's voice in the back of her head ranting over junk food and how her daughter should resist the temptation.

She pretends to wipe her mouth with a paper napkin that she then uses to conceal her untouched food. She folds the wrapping back around it and put it on the low table, hoping the other's empty wrappings will hide it. As she leans back in the couch, she feels Max pressing herself against her. It might just be because of the lack of space...She's too edge to try and meet her eyes.

"Wait," suddenly says Eddie, turning to Dustin. "Why can't we call your friend with the superpowers and let her deal with Vecna? "

"Because those went bye bye," says Steve as if he was announcing they ran out of ketchup.

"Jesus..." grumbles Eddie.

"But we're going to find a way," adds Robin from the other end of the couch. She turns to Chrissy. "Trust me, if you need anyone to help you get rid of a freaky, outworldly, mind-twisting being, it's those guys. I've seen it with my own eyes! Are we missing our strongest asset? Yeah, sure, but it doesn't mean all is lost. In the end, this bastard is probably just flesh and bones like us, which means, we can kill him simply by- by-"

"Shooting him in the face," offers Dustin

"Chopping his head off," shouts Lucas.

"Setting him on fire," chants Dustin.

"I'd say all of the above," says Nancy before the boys get too excited. "but this means we need a plan – a good one. And some weapons."

"Do you still have that nailed bat in your trunk, Steve?" asks Robin.

Chrissy isn't sure what surprises her the most. The way Robin asks about it as if she was talking about a spare tire, or the fact that Steve answers yes without any hesitation.

"Even with my guns," says Nancy, "I don't think this will be enough."

Chrissy glances at Eddie, wondering if she heard right.

"You have guns, plural?" he asks, bemused.

"Oh yeah," smirks Steve, "and she knows how to use it."

Of all the things Chrissy should be paying attention to, this is probably the last, but as she processes the image of Nancy Wheeler taking aim and firing, she notices the way Steve looks at her. She knows they broke up something like two years ago, but he still looks at her with a sort of awe...like she's the center of the universe, like he's proud to be allowed near her, like he'd do anything for her.

Unless Chrissy is just putting too much into it. She turns to Eddie who's staring back and forth between Steve and Nancy. Sometimes, she thinks Eddie is looking at her that way too, and it's the best feeling ever. If only it was enough...

While Robin, Dustin and Steve banter about Steve knowing first-hand how Nancy handles her guns because he once was at the other end of it, Chrissy stands up and pretends to fill a glass of water from the kitchen sink. She feels almost claustrophobic. Too many information to process. Too many bad news. Too many people observing her reactions.

She feels movement behind her, expects the warmth of Eddie's hand on her back, but it's Max's voice she hears. "It's a hard pill to swallow, isn't it?"

The girl stands next to her, filling herself a glass before she speaks again.

"But to be fair, I'm kind of relieved...I mean, it sucks, but at least we know what we're up against. Part of it."

Chrissy sighs. "I guess..."

"Last time..." Max stops and takes a few sips of her water. "Last time, they took my brother. I won't let those shitheads mess with me anymore."

They turn to lock eyes. Chrissy is stricken by the resolution burning in Max's. Somehow, it's communicative. The redhead raises her glass, "We're gonna fight him real dirty."

Chrissy tells herself she mirrors her to make Max feel better. But as she declares, "We'll give him hell!", as their glasses touch and they smile at each other, she realizes it makes her feel better too. Because part of her wants to believe she can be the Wonder Woman Eddie claims she is.