Once More, With Strangeness

Chapter 22

 Becca moved forward, having told the group to stay back while she scanned the area. She needed to know what they were dealing with before everybody went charging in. Moving swift and silent among the trees, she paused when the familiar sight of white blond hair shone like a beacon through the barren terrain.

She began to step forward carefully, not wanting to alert Spike to their presence when a hand landed on her shoulder. Becca bit down on her bottom lip to stop the scream that was threatening to burst forth and spun to find Eddie behind her. He held up both hands, a cringy sort of smile on his face showing he knew that maybe sneaking up on her hadn't been his best plan.

"What the hell are you doing?" Becca hissed softly. "I told everybody to stay back and wait while I assessed the situation."

"Yeah, I know you did," he whispered, "but you should know by now that I am not letting you head off into danger without me."

Becca rolled her eyes, wondering when Eddie would finally realize that she was more than capable of handling herself. Okay, to be fair, Spike had kicked her ass the last time they met but this was different. She wasn't planning on charging in to take him out. She was just trying to figure out what they were dealing with but she didn't have time to argue right now.

"Fine," she whispered back, "but be quiet and no running in there just because you see Dustin. If we don't do this right, Spike could kill him before we have a chance to get to him. Got it?"

"Got it," Eddie agreed, saluting her with a goofy grin.

"You can be such an ass," she muttered, turning back around.

She jumped when Eddie grabbed her butt. "I'd rather have your ass."

"Jesus," Becca sighed, holding her hand up at him. "Calm down there Don Juan. We have other things to do first."

Becca pushed forward, Eddie following silently behind her. Crouching down, she peered out. It was so eerie, just seeing nothing but a massive, arid space where Lover's Lake should be. The ground was covered in fissures and, Becca was not pleased to see, tons of those fucking bats. Eddie's hand gripped her shoulder and she knew he was thinking the same thing she was, remembering the way those things had clawed at him, not allowing him to escape.

Dustin stood next to Spike, his hands tied together with rope. He looked thoroughly annoyed, not terrified like he should. Spike also looked quite vexed, his lips pursed with such irritation that those cheekbones stuck out even more sharply, looking like they could cut glass.

"It appears Henderson is being the annoying little shit we all know and love," Eddie chuckled softly and Becca could hear the relief in his voice at seeing his little buddy alive.

"Yeah, Spike definitely looks like he is done with him," Becca responded. "But that might not be a good thing. Let's get back to the others and tell them."

"Becca, Dustin is right there," Eddie said, pointing, "we can't just go back and leave him."

Becca could read the desperation on his face. It was the exact same look Dustin had given her when she'd asked them all to wait before charging in to get Eddie. She understood. She really did. Becca hated walking away when Dustin was right there, but they needed backup.

"Eddie, the minute he realizes we're here, he is going to send every one of those demon dogs and bats after us," Becca said softly. "We'll go back, get the others, and then we'll get him. I swear."

"The only problem with that, love, is that he already knows exactly where you are," Spike yelled out.

"Shit," Becca muttered, pinching the bridge of her nose and slowly rising to her feet. No point in hiding now. The bastard somehow knew where they were.