MELANCHOLY [S.T. B. Hargrove]

52

"So.. music snaps you out of the trance?" I clarify.

"Nancy and Robin figured it out," Dustin confirms.

"How did you guys figure out my favorite song? Where'd you gringos even find this?" I turn the tape around in my hands.

"I found it in Billy's room when Neil was moving out," Max reveals. "After you two had that fight.. Billy played that song every week or so and just.. was quiet."

"Billy?" I repeat, the name putting me on edge.

Should I tell them what Vecna said?

What if it was just a mind game?

I saw Billy die. I held him as he took his final breaths. There was no way..

"I think he bought it the night you were supposed to go on the date," Max reveals. "I think it was supposed to be a present or something."

Another pain hits.

"I grabbed it from Billy's room before Neil could find it. I had it with my stuff because.. I guess I figured one day I'd have the guts to tell you about it."

I clutch the tape in both hands and rest my head on my hands.

"My dad used to sing it to my mom," I reveal. "Back in Mexico. It was the first song I learned how to sing."

"I listened to mine after Billy.. I thought about how he made that deal- the Mind Flayer not allowed to kill me," Max reveals. "Kate Bush has cameras in my head or something because it's a little too personal."

I mentally curse to myself.

I had to know.

"Drop me off at the store. I'll take my car from here," I tell Steve.

"What?"

"We can't keep trading off the Walkman. I'll run and buy a spare. No biggie," I lie.

"You're not going alone," Steve denies.

"I'll play the tape the whole ride there, buy a Walkman, and start playing it immediately. I'll be fine. You need to regroup anyway. Plus, Eddie probably needs a hand."

"Are you sure?" Max asks.

I kiss her head gently. "I promise, Max. Just keep blaring Kate Bush and I'll be back before you know it."

--

Freddy Fender continues playing through the headphones around my neck as I put my gun in the waistband of my jeans.

I check the area before jogging over to Eddie's trailer. Then, I see the gate.

It was further open than the last time I was here. Like the gate was trying to open more on its own.

I try to not think about it, but it was impossible. This was another world. Another Hawkins. Another dimension.

This was the shit people dreamed about after long nights of conspiracy theory talks. This wasn't real. And yet, here I was, staring at the gate and readying myself to go through.

I push the thoughts away. I play pretend. This wasn't another dimension, it was just.. a door to another room. Yeah. Another room. 

A big room that looked almost exactly like the world I knew. Scary. Monsters.

No. I shake my head clear of the thoughts. I can do this.

Billy could be there. Vecna may have told the truth. If Billy was there.. I had to know.

I climb onto the couch. With steady hands, I tie my hair back in a ponytail and gran onto the edge of the hole. My feet find the back of the couch and I pull myself up by my arms.