The Long Game, Lucas Sinclair

050. we dream and i'm crowned

CHAPTER FIFTY.
4x08: Papa

It was a long ride, but not a miserable one.

Honestly, the domesticity of riding in a stolen trailer with your friends as you prepared to go fight an interdimensional wizard was remarkable. Sam was content to sit on the cushioned couch with Max for the rest of the journey; Lucas, Dustin, and Erica would come in and out to sit with them. Sam enjoyed it. Just for a moment, she could trick her mind that the party was fine and in tact.

Steve parked the trailer, causing the few sleeping members to jolt awake. Auggie was one of them, and Steve only apologized when Auggie grumbled in upset. They decided that all the Hellfire Club members had to stay behind, especially Eddie, considering the town of Hawkins wasn't very happy with them at the moment. They might be out of Hawkins, but they couldn't take any foolish risks.

Sam got up to go into the store with the rest of the group, but was immediately stopped by everyone's protests.

"Woah, woah, woah, you're not going with us, Goldie!"

Sam gaped in offense. "What? Why not?!"

"Um—" Steve gestured to her, like the answer should be obvious. "You're the one who literally just said Hellfire members shouldn't go 'cause they're wanted."

"Yeah, to keep them safe!" she protested.

"You're wanted too!" Auggie argued.

The reminder was like cold water being dumped over Sam's heart. If anyone squinted, they would've noted her grimacing flinch. She breathed, heavily, staring back at them.

"Sam," Nancy broke in softly. Her eyes were sympathetic on Sam in a way that told her Nancy knew exactly what was going on in her mind. "Just stay here for a sec. It'll be fine, okay?"

But Sam did not echo Nancy. She stared, still uncertain, fists clenching.

"I'll even buy you a gun and bullets," Nancy offered in sing-songy tone.

Sam opened her mouth to protest, inhaling a large breath of air with her, but the complaint fell silent from her lips. All factors considered, it wasn't that bad of a deal.

"Fine," Sam conceded. "But I want a handgun, okay?"

Everyone let out smiles, now that Sam had given in. They worried there would've been much more of a fight on Sam's end. Luckily, just this once, there wasn't.

Nancy saluted. "Yes, ma'am."

And then Max, Erica, Auggie, Robin, Steve, and Nancy were exiting the trailer. Sam, Lucas, Dustin, and Eddie were being unfortunately left behind. The three boys didn't seem to care much about this alignment, but Sam was already getting restless. She didn't like doing nothing, feeling useless, especially since she'd been caught in Vecna's trance. Nothing could combat that horrifying feeling of being trapped in her own mind. It was awful and unimaginable.