Eddie Lives

Chapter Seven: Rewriting the Narrative

Over the next few days, they worked carefully. Nancy led the charge, gathering evidence and working to frame Jason's obsession with Eddie as the root cause of the murders. They planted Jason's belongings near the crime scenes, manipulating the narrative to paint him as a vigilante who had gone too far in his quest to "save" Hawkins from the so-called cult.

They took their fabricated evidence to Chief Powell. At first, he was skeptical—after all, he still wasn't convinced of the more outlandish rumors surrounding Eddie. But Nancy, with her journalistic prowess and unshakeable resolve, laid out the case in a way Powell couldn't ignore. Reluctantly, he agreed to look into it which then led to him making an official statement.

Chief Powell's statement to the press was brief but effective. He explained how Jason's obsession with Eddie had spiraled into violence, leading to the tragic events in Hawkins. The town, still reeling from the terror it had experienced, was eager for answers. Jason's increasingly erratic behavior made him the perfect scapegoat. People started to talk, and soon enough, Jason was seen as the villain, while Eddie became less of a target.

Weeks passed, and the story took hold. Eddie, laying low with the help of his friends, watched as his name was slowly cleared. The town was still suspicious of him—there were whispers, glances—but he wasn't the focus of their hatred anymore. Jason had become the villain in their eyes, and Eddie was free to return, though with caution.

One evening, under the cover of night, Eddie walked through Hawkins again with Dustin by his side. He stuck to the shadows, unsure of his place in a town that had once turned against him. Just then, he caught the sound of quiet voices drifting through the cool evening air. Near the bleachers, a group of teenagers huddled together, their faces barely lit by a single flickering street lamp. Eddie slowed, his breath hitching as he overheard snippets of their conversation.

"That's Eddie Munson," one of them whispered, the words tinged with awe. "The guy who survived... everything."

The others fell silent, eyes widening as they took in Eddie's shadowy form, recognizing him even from a distance. They didn't recoil or look away in fear, as he might have expected. Instead, one of the kids gave him a slight nod, his D&D binder clutched protectively to his chest.

Eddie had expected hatred or distrust, but in their faces, he saw something he hadn't felt from anyone outside his small circle in a long time—respect, maybe even admiration.

He met their gaze briefly, offering a faint nod of his own before he moved on, feeling a strange sense of peace. He wasn't a hero, but he wasn't the villain anymore either. His friends had fought for him, they had risked everything to give him his life back.

"I've been meaning to give this to you," Dustin said, reaching into his pocket. He revealed Eddie's guitar pick necklace, old dried blood coating the chain. Eddie retrieved it, squeezing it tightly in his palm. It was a heavy reminder of everything he'd lost and gained.

But as he held his necklace, his thoughts drifted to Chrissy. "What would she think of all this?" he wondered, the ache in his chest deepening. Her smile flashed in his mind, the way she had looked at him with kindness and understanding. She deserved so much more.

Every time he thought of her, it felt like a hollow space in his heart. They had shared moments that hinted at something beautiful, something that could have been, but it had all been snatched away.

He tucked the necklace into his pocket, the weight of it grounding him—a symbol of not just his losses but also of the friendships that had pulled him back from the brink and the memories of someone who saw him for who he really was.

"So, what now?" Dustin asked while tucking his hands into his pockets.

"I think me and my Uncle are going to disappear for a little while. He has a buddy a few towns over who's been looking for a couple of roommates. Might be good to start over," Eddie said half heartedly.

Dustin's face fell as Eddie mentioned his plans to move a few towns away. Eddie saw the shadow of worry in his friend's eyes and felt a pang in his chest. Dustin had been by his side through the worst of it, and now, even the thought of parting seemed almost too heavy to bear.

"Hey," Eddie said, placing a firm hand on Dustin's shoulder, "don't think of it like I'm leaving for good. I'll just be a bit down the road." He shot Dustin a lopsided grin. "And besides, we've got a new campaign to write. We both know Hawkins is practically bursting with inspiration these days."

Dustin looked up, a smirk slowly replacing his frown. "A Vecna-themed campaign?" he asked, catching the hint of excitement in Eddie's voice.

"Sure thing, bud," Eddie replied with a grin, slinging an arm over Dustin's shoulders as they walked down the dimly lit street.

As he walked beside Dustin, Eddie realized that he had a choice. He could either remain anchored to the past, burdened by its weight, or he could forge a new path. Hawkins might never be perfect, but it was his home—a place where he had fought for his truth, where he had discovered his strength, and where he had learned the true meaning of loyalty and love.

"Maybe it's time to write a new story," he thought, feeling a glimmer of hope. One that didn't shy away from the darkness but embraced it, weaving it into the tapestry of his life.

Hawkins wasn't perfect. It never would be. But it would always be a part of him—his scars, his triumphs, and his memories. Eddie had survived the Upside Down, survived Vecna, and now, he had survived Hawkins too. And as long as he had friends like Dustin by his side, he was ready to face whatever came next, one campaign at a time.