Satanic Panic

Chapter 13

Seth's POV

Dustin counts us down as the demobats approach, Eddie transitioning into the most face-melting solo I've ever heard. I grip my weapon tighter, a growing feeling of dread in my stomach. My headache had disappeared entirely, telling me that Max was already under Vecna's spell, and I whispered a prayer to every god I don't believe in that she makes it out alright.

Dustin ends his countdown and Eddie hits his final note, tossing his guitar to the ground before we all hurry to the edge of the roof. Quickly, we jump down onto the truck below and then to the ground, rushing inside the trailer.

Eddie just barely manages to close the fenced-in area on time and I pull him indoors immediately after.

We catch our breath, relief washing over us. Dustin's the first to speak.

"Dude... most... metal... EVER!" he ramps up, shouting at the end. We all hop and scream excitedly, reeling from the fact that our plan worked out.

Until it didn't.

Before we knew it, the demobats were coming in through the vents. We managed to get them locked away, but it wasn't going to hold. We had to escape.

Dustin was the first through the gate, then me. I look to Eddie, opening my mouth to tell him to hurry, but I instead freeze in shock as I watch him cut the makeshift rope.

"Eddie!" Dustin shouts, "Eddie, stop!"

He flips the mattress away.

"Eddie, what are you doing?!" He shouts once more.

Eddie gives him a solemn look, grabbing his gear. "Buying more time." He runs out of the trailer, drawing the creatures' attention.

Fuck.

FUCK!

I grab a nearby chair, pulling it beneath the gate and climbing up. I get ready to jump but Dustin calls out to me.

"Seth!"

"I made a promise, Dustin!" I shout back.

"Seth..." Eddie raised a hand to caress my face but stopped just before it made contact. "I don't know what to say right now. I just... I want you to know I'll protect you. No matter what."

I pull him into a tight embrace. "I know. And I hope you know I'll do the same for you."

My voice lowers to a whisper. "We both did," I utter under my breath.

"I'm coming with-"

"No! Stay here!" I prepare myself to jump again. "Make sure nothing gets through, okay? Guard the gate." with that, I jump, grabbing hold of the edge and pulling myself up through the gate

I fall into the Upside Down.

I crash to the floor, slamming my head on it in the process. My vision blurs for a moment and the world starts to warp, but I don't have time for a concussion, so I stand up and run out the door.

I ignore the blood dripping down my face and run toward the sound of screeching, spotting a swarm of demobats. In the center is Eddie, fighting them off. Clutching my weapon, I sprint into the fray, swinging at anything that gets too close until I'm back-to-back with him. "Hey, gorgeous!" I shout over the screeching tornado of monsters.

"What-" He kills a few bats that swoop in, "-Are you doing here?!"

"Keeping my promise!"

We thin the cloud quite a bit between the two of us, practically unstoppable as a team, but our luck changes quickly when Eddie's knocked off his feet. I rush over and bash away his attackers, letting myself take a few nasty hits in order to let him get back to his feet.