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Chapter 50, Road Trip with the Harringtons (Ep. 8: Papa)
Gathered in Max's trailer, the group was in silence and absorbing everything experienced. To have witnessed one of their own trapped in a trance and barely finding the right song was more than a relief, it was a miracle.
But to Steve, it was more.
So much more.
After Gwen's confession at the Creel House, he was constantly afraid that she would willingly accept death. That she wouldn't accept their help and instead dive into the darkness without looking back.
It was a constant cycle, thinking of the worst and never the light.
His divinity was accepting defeat and like a lost worshipper, he was at risk of wandering through a senseless life.
Like a meek child, he hid behind the memories. He thought of their time together and how happy they had been, but then a cloud covered his sight, preventing him from remembering the cause of their downfall hadn't been him, but the obscurity instead.
That obscurity being Vecna.
When Gwen returned to him, Steve believed he had reached heaven. After months of darkness, his golden light had resurfaced and accepted to continue shining. She decided to fight, to continue breathing, to continue living.
And that was more than enough.
Now that a second chance had been gifted, he wouldn't take another minute for granted.
Sitting beside her, he placed his hand on hers so softly and carefully. He was terrified of letting her out of his sight, worried that Vecna could return and attempt to take her back. He knew whatever he showed her affected her and left her deeply scarred, but she tried maintaining a low profile to not worry the others even more.
"He showed me things that haven't happened yet," Gwen took a shaky breath, staring ahead, afraid. "A dark cloud was spreading over Hawkins, Downtown was on fire, there were lots of dead soldiers, and a giant creature with a gaping mouth."
A momentary silence fell.
She was having trouble speaking, as if her ability had been taken. It was getting harder to breathe the more she recalled those visions, but this wasn't something that only affected her. What he showed her was a representation of the future and it was a future so sinister and full of agony.
"That monster wasn't alone. There were others, almost like they were an army," she continued, her eyes welling and voice tremulous. "They were coming into Hawkins, into our neighborhoods, our homes, and then-"
Seeing Dustin, Steve, and everyone she loved dying at the hands of those creatures felt like knives cutting her open. She wanted to believe this was Vecna's way of torturing her, but these visions felt too real, like it was a glimpse into an inevitable future.
