𝗨𝗚𝗟𝗬 // 𝗦𝘁𝗲𝘃𝗲 𝗛𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘁𝗼𝗻

042

"It was a coincidence Steve!"
I'm rushing down the slippery green cemetery hill back to the car, hand clutching my nose trying to catch any leftover blood.
He follows close behind me, so stressed I can hear him slipping slightly on the grass, "a coincidence Ruby?" Somehow, as I reach the bottom of the hill, he's caught up and is now standing in front of me on the path.
I suppose I was walking slower than I thought, I do feel quite dizzy.

He looks down at me in desperation and fear, cowering at the inferences caused by a simple nose bleed. "Rubes.." the nickname makes me smile for a moment, "please be honest with me," his hands are in my own as he begs for the truth, "you and I both know it's not just a coincidence you had a massive nose bleed while Vecna was doing whatever the hell that was.."

His words are filled with frustration, but for the first time in the anxiety spiral he's had the last two days, his tone is calm. I think he knows that deep down, I'm more scared then he is.

I didn't realise until his hand was on my face, but a tear had dropped down my cheek, now being rubbed away by Steve's thumb. I didn't even notice him walk closer.
His eyes never leave mine, as if he's pretending he feels no fear, "baby.." the sentence makes my breathe falter and heart burst, he rubs my cheek slowly, calming a panic I didn't let myself acknowledge, "has there been any other signs?"

I breathe out the words, as if spilling a secret, "I had a nightmare."
He sighs lightly and the action alone causes another tear.

Why me?
Why Max?

In a smooth movement, Steve has pressed my head to his chest and his arms have wrapped around me, one around my waist and one allowing his hand to run his fingers through my hair as involuntarily, I begin to sob a little.

"Shhhh.." he rubs my head, "we'll work this out... we'll work this out."

****

"Ruby..."
Her voice echoes through the walls as I try to turn my head, as I try to find her.
But I can't move and when I attempt to look down, I find I have no body, no legs, no arms, nothing but the eyes I'm peering around with.
It's like some kind of twisted arcade game.

"Ruby...." Her voice gets closer, and I begin to hear footsteps as my breathing gets louder. I want to move. I have to move.

Suddenly, the teen voice changes into one of anger and rage, shouting my name, shouting, "ugly Ruby White! Where are you?" If I had a body, it would've stiffened at the sound.

"You're late for our dateeeeee!" Eery, frightening, his voice echoes like a reminder of the past until once again, like a record scratch it changes and the voice echoes from a different area of my house now.

"Ruby darling it's not your fault ok?" I wish I could cry. But most of all, I wish I could run to her. Her voice is a sense of calm in the storm, a sense of loving in the misery, almost parental, "Ruby.. any plans for the summer?" It's like my memories are playing on the radio, on some kind o loop.

"Ruby... darling..." her voice is more of a sickening sweet echo now, yet I hear footsteps outside the living room door, where I suddenly realise I'm trapped, how did I not know my location before? I look around me, the couch, the cracking walls, I'm in my lounge.

"Ruby give Steve Harrington a chance dear..."
In that moment, I know where I am and I perfectly understand what's happening.
Fuck.

He knows Steve's name.

I try to scream but I have no lungs, no lips to plead from, no legs to start running.