You take the man out of the city, not the city out the man

chapter 29

the next day

I sit in the trunk with my headphones on as we drive down a road.

"Not to be a wimp, but can I sit in the car for this visit because this is gonna totally and royally suck." Robin says as she looks at Nancy.

"It'll be fine." Nancy says as Steve reaches over me to grab a can of Pringles.

"I just can't stand to see those doe eyes of Eddie's break again." Robin says.

"At least he can drink himself into feeling better." Steve says as he grabs a case of beers.

"That's what my mom does." Max says as Lucas looks at her.

"Why don't we give it a trial? 'Hey, Eddie. Uh, good news first this time. We got you some Dustin-approved junk food and that six pack you requested. Oh yeah, and we found Vecna, only the bad news is that he's in that other, darker, much scarier dimension that we told you about and the gate's closed, so we have no way of getting to him. He's entirely shut off to us, so basically you're screwed. And no, I know you were already screwed but now you're doubly, triply screwed." Robin says quickly as we all look at her.

"Maybe, we shouldn't put it like that." I tell Robin.

"'We're one step closer to finding Vecna.' That's what we say. That's what's important." Nancy says.

"See, Robin? Positive spin can make all the difference." Steve says as he holds up a Pringle.

"Oh shit." Nancy says as we all look at her. We look ahead and see people huddling around the house as we go behind a van, listening to what one of the police officers have to say.

"We made our way to the shore of Lover's Lake, about ten yards from that house you see behind me. It was there that we found the victim, an 18 year okd senior from Hawkins High, Patrick Mckinney." The officer says as I look at Lucas. That was one of the guys on the basketball team.

"His limbs... his body, it was disfigured. There was an eyewitness on the scene. We have also identified a person of interest. Eddie Munson." The officer continues as he holds up a picture of Eddie.

"Shit." I tell the group as we look at the photo of Eddie.

"We encourage anyone with any information about Eddie to inform us immediately." The officer says as Steve looks at us.

"This is not good. Really not good." Steve says as we agree.

Reporters bombard the officers with questions as they walk away from them, going towards the house.

"Dustin, can you hear me? Wheeler?" Eddie says through the walkie talkie.

"Eddie. Holy shit. Are you okay?" Dustin asks, turning around so no one can hear as we huddle around him.

"Nah, man. Pretty... pretty goddamn far from okay."

  "Where is he?" I ask Dustin.

"Where are you?" Dustin asks.

"Skull Rock. Do you know it?"
"Yeah, that's near Cornwallis-"
"And Garrett. Yeah, I know where that is." Steve says as he pats Dustin's shoulder, going to the car as we follow him.

We drive to Skull Rock as we walk down a path in the woods.

"Dude, I'm telling you, you're taking us the wrong way." Steve says as I follow him and Dustin.

"It's north. I'm positive. I checked the map." Dustin says as he holds up a compass.

"You do realize Skull Rock, it's a super popular make out spot?" Steve asks us.