𝐦𝐢𝐫𝐫𝐨𝐫𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐥 | stranger things

twenty-eight

"It was here," Max said as she and Wren showed the others the spot where they saw the clock. Wren was leaning against Nancy with her head resting on her shoulder, finding comfort in her older sister's arms. "Right here."

"A grandfather clock?" Nancy asked, soothingly threading her fingers through Wren's hair to try and give her something else to focus on besides any thoughts of the clock.

"It was there," Wren confirmed, her voice shaking. "I-It was real. There were cracks in the wall a-and everything."

"When we got closer, suddenly we just . . . we woke up," Max added.

"We never left Ms. Kelley's office," Wren whispered. "B-But I remember leaving. I-I left, and Max followed me."

"Neither of you ever left the office." Chrissy shook her head slowly. "It was like you were in a trance or something. It was just like what Eddie said happened to Rosie."

Max turned around to face them. "That's not even the bad part." They went back to the office, and Max showed them the files. "Fred and Rosie both came to Ms. Kelley for help. Uh, they both were having headaches. Bad headaches that wouldn't go away. And then . . . then the nightmares. Trouble sleeping. They'd wake up in a cold sweat."

Nancy glanced over at Wren, who had started pacing around the office and fidgeting with the ribbon Chrissy gave her. Nancy had been woken up nearly every night by a scream coming from Wren's room. When she'd go to check on her, she'd be curled up in her bed, sobbing as she rocked herself back and forth and whispered to herself that it was just a dream.

A very real, very vivid dream.

"Then they started seeing things," Max continued. "Bad things. From their pasts. These visions, they just . . . they kept on getting worse and worse, until eventually . . . everything ended."

"Vecna's curse," Robin said.

"Rosie's headaches started a week ago. Fred's six days ago. Wren's started a few weeks ago, but she said they've gotten worse these last couple days. I've been having them for five days." Tears filled Max's eyes as she continued to speak, her usually tough exterior cracking. "I don't know how long we have. All I know is that, for Fred and Rosie, they both died less than 24 hours after their first vision. And Wren and I just saw that goddamn clock, so . . . looks like one or both of us is gonna die tomorrow."

Wren jumped when she heard a clanging coming from the hallway. Steve told them to stay there, and he grabbed a lamp to use as a weapon before leaving the office. Naturally, Dustin didn't listen and decided to follow him, the others doing the same. Wren stuck close with Max, the redhead holding her hand.

Clattering echoed from wherever the intruder was. Rapid footsteps approached. Steve raised the lamp to strike as the figure came darting around the corner, only to lower it when he realized that it was just Lucas.

"Jesus, what is wrong with you, Sinclair?!" Steve snapped.

"I'm sorry!" Lucas gasped for air.

"I could've taken you out with this lamp!"

"That would be assault of a minor," Wren said, adjusting her glasses on her nose. Steve turned to her with creased brows. "I-It's a criminal offense that can be considered child abuse."

"What are you, a lawyer?" Steve scoffed.

Wren shrugged. "Just the facts," she muttered, looking down at where her and Max's hands were locked. It felt oddly comforting. Usually she didn't like any form of physical touch unless she initiated it or if it was from Nancy or Robin, but lately, she's been growing more comfortable when it was from Max or Dustin.