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

chapter 32

  We walk inside the house as I walk into the attic as Running Up That Hill blares in my ears.

I hold up a light, that's shining blue as I walk around.

We figured it would be better if we were silent, so Vecna wouldn't know we were there, so we brought notepads to communicate.

I hear the floorboards creak as I turn around and see Lucas and Max holding up a notepad.

Found Vecna

Great.

I follow the two to the room and see a bright light and walk towards it, my light getting brighter each step.

Lucas goes out of the house. Phase one.

It's awkward as Max and I look at each other in the living room, Kate Bush being heard.

I grab a notepad, not being able to stand the awkwardness. We used to be so close.

Hi.

I write on the paper as she smiles.

Hi

Max writes as I smile.

I'm glad you're here.

I write as Max grabs a pen again.

Me too!

Max says with a smile as I raise my eyebrows.

I've missed you this year. Let's hang next friday?

Max writes as I smile.

I missed you too. Sounds like a plan to me.

I write as a flashlights comes between the wooden plank.

Max and I stand up as Max flashes the light on and off.

Max and I walk towards the room as I stare at the light.

I look at Max. I'm really doing this. Okay.

I take off my headphones and turn off the tape as I stand between the door and the room.

"Hey! Asshole! I'm here." I yell towards the light.

"No more music. No more games." I say as nothing happens.

"Do you hear me?" I ask.

"What are you waiting for, huh? Do you want me or not?" I ask as the light buzzes away from Lucas's lamp, the light going to mine.

Max and I follow the light, as we go up the stairs.

Shit.

You're doing this for your friends lifes. It's fine. For your friends.

The light brings us to the attic as it stops by the jar of insects.

I close my eyes as the light turns off. I look at Max.

"What are you waiting for, asshole? Huh? I'm right here. I'm right here!" I yell. It's not working. This has to work.

"I know you can hear me. I know you can read my thoughts. Even my worst ones. The one about Mike." I say as I set the light down and take off my headphones and tape completely, setting them beside me.

I sit down in front of the light as I look at Max again.

"I thought about what you said." I start.

"About how I was happy Mike was gone and in California and that I had popularity. I thought you were trying to upset me, or something. But you weren't, were you? You were just telling the truth. Although being popular was shitty and all I wanted was to talk to Mike, I felt... peaceful." I admit.