Basic Instinct [stranger things]

94. Shrink

CHAPTER NINETY-FOUR
SHRINK

Hours later, and the group were back at Reefer Rick's. More specifically, the garage in which Eddie was hiding in.

The six teenagers had brung the food they'd bought for him, and they'd sat along side him as he ate it.

Aaron was reluctant to do this, however Kimmy had dragged him down next to her. The brunette not wanting to give the older boy any reason not to trust the group.

Aaron didn't make a fuss after Kimmy had forced him to sit down next to her, however he did watch Eddie with a wary expression.

The blond's hands were placed in his lap, the boy messing around with his watch strap as he did his best not to look to Eddie, a blurry look of fear on his features that he did his best to control.

"So we got, uh, some good news and some bad news." Dustin spoke up carefully, his face scrunched up in hesitancy. "How do you prefer it?"

"Bad news first." Eddie answered instantly with a shrug, stuffing his face with a bag of chips as he spoke. "Always."

"Alright." Dustin sighed while clasping his hands together. "Bad news it is."

Aaron began to fidget with his watch once more, to the point that his elbow kept nudging into Kimmy without him noticing it.

Kimmy didn't draw attention to what he was doing, simply placing her hand over his wrist to stop his fidgeting.

The blond snuck a glance at her with furrowed brows, only to find she wasn't watching him. Kimmy was simply looking ahead at Eddie with an unreadable expression of perplexity.

"We tapped into the Hawkins PD dispatch with our Cerebro." Dustin rambled on, concerned look burning into his features as he spoke at a rapid pace. "And they're definitely looking for you. Also, there, uh, pretty convinced you killed Chrissy."

"Like, 100% kind of convinced." Max nodded from the other side of Kimmy.

"And the good news?" Eddie scoffed sarcastically at the news thrown his way.

"Your name hasn't actually gone public yet." Robin rushed to explain, leaning against the wall with her arms crossed as she did so. "But... if we found out about you, it won't be long before others do too. And once that gets out, everyone and their shadow-minded mother is going to be gunning for you."

"Hunt the freak, right?" Eddie spoke sourly, his face scrunched up into an almost dramatic expression of hate.

Aaron rolled his eyes at Eddie's choice of words.

"Uh... yeah?" Kimmy answered with an expression of uncertainty, although her answer sounded more like a question in itself.

Aaron held back a grin at her response, knowing she was fully serious in her attempt to... comfort him.

"Shit." Eddie groaned anxiously at the brunette's response.

"So, before that happens," Dustin instantly began again, a faux look of confidence taking over his face. "We find Vecna, kill him, and prove your innocence-"

"Vecna?" Aaron repeated in a puzzled tone, tilting his head ever so slightly as he looked to Dustin.

Dustin snapped his head over to the blond boy, his eyes wide as he glanced to Aaron with a look of horror.