THE FREAKS ~ Eddie Munson

Chapter Forty-Seven: Rickety Old Hospital Bed

Veronica POV

I laid in the hospital bed with Eddie, his arm wrapped around me as he finally got some sleep. I couldn't stop thinking about Max. I hadn't seen Lucas and Erica since the nurse came up to me allowing me to see Eddie.

That was hours ago. I need to go check on them.

I rolled over a little, my head no longer resting on his bandaged up chest. I sighed, noticing the silent tv on the wall playing the Hawkins News. The caption on the fuzzy screen read "Eddie Munson hospitalized before major earthquake. Another victim found in critical condition".

Fucking great.

I gave out a soft sigh as i turned off the tv. I turned over a bit more to look at the clock sitting on the small nightstand to realize that it had just hit 9:30 in the morning.

Anndd that's another all nighter. Shit. I really needed to get some rest. Lucas, Erica, and especially Max came first though. I needed to know how she was doing.

I looked over at Eddie guiltily, hoping he didn't mind if I left him for a minute to go see them.

He doesn't even know about Max's condition yet. I didn't wanna tell him anything unless I knew the outcome for sure.

These past few hours as Eddie had slept, I couldn't help but wonder how Steve, Robin, and Nancy were. I just hoped they made it out alright...I hadn't heard anything about them or from them at all. In fact, I've only seen Lucas and Erica since all of this went down.

I slowly sat up from the hospital bed, careful not to hurt or wake Eddie. I slipped on my shoes and tiptoed to the door, opening it reveal two officers standing beside it.

Ugh.

I closed the door quietly as the two officers stared at me in silence.

Now that Eddie was "caught", the hospital had been swarmed by police officers. Two stay guarding Eddie's room (him not being allowed to leave it) and multiple guarding around the building and by the front door. I hadn't tried leaving the hospital yet, but I'm sure i'd get humbled very quickly if I'd even tried.

I walked down the messy hallways, the hospital still covered in papers and debris from the earthquake. I turned the corner to reveal Max's room, my heart dropping at the sight. The sound of Lucas' sobs from hours ago echoed in my brain as I walked up to the door. I sighed before giving a slight knock, my hands beginning to shake.

My heart wrenched at the thought of her possible conditions. The news had already told me she wasn't dead, but I was terrified to see how Vecna left her.

It should have fucking been me.

I was snapped out of my thoughts by an unfamiliar man opening the door. My heart stopped, not expecting the unknown face.

The man was skinny with a bald head, wearing a flannel button up and an old pair of jeans. He wore a cap on his head, the shadow of it covering his heavy eyes.

"Excuse me." He said, his head low as he walked out of the hospital room. I took a deep breath, slowly making my way inside.

I tensed up as I walked inside, my eyes immediately darting to Max. Tears welled up in my eyes, the sight of her body limp on the rickety hospital bed causing my heart to drop. She had bandages all over her, a neck brace holding her head up straight.

Guilt ate at my heart, a silent sob escaping my lips as I studied her condition. I could have stopped this. I could have stopped Max from getting hurt if I would have just gone in there instead. Max and Lucas could have distracted the bats...I-I could have-