Angelica "Freak Two" Munson

Chapter 80

"Steve," Angie mutters, placing a worried hand on his arm, "who's car is that?"

He gazes up at the black SUV parked outside of Reefer Rick's house, "I have no idea."

"What do we do?" She asks, growing concerned.

"Just stay calm," he addresses softly, "We'll park down the street and check it out on foot."

She nods, trying her best not to leap from her seat. 

The second the car rolls into park, Angie throws her door open and follows Steve around the backside of the property.

He lightly bangs on the window of the boathouse before sliding back out of sight. 

Eddie peaks his head up, just enough to see us, and allows the door to slip open.

Steve grabs Angie's hand, yanking her into the shed, before quickly closing the door again.

"Oh, thank God," Eddie sighs, wrapping his arms around his little sister, "What took you guys so long?"

She scratches her head hesitantly, looking at Steve.

"Substandard parents," he shrugs, taking a seat on the floor.

Eddie looks puzzled but doesn't question any further.

Angie gazes out of the window, looking towards the house, "How long have they been here?"

"At least an hour or two," he replies, "Any idea who they are?"

She scoffs, catching a face peaking through the blinds, "Does the name Jason Carver ring any bells?"

"Not any good ones," he mutters, placing his head in his hands.

Steve looks up, pulling Angie from her place, "I guess, we can just wait them out. You know, they can't search forever."

She lowers her body from the window, flanking Steve's side, "Let's just hope they aren't smart enough to check the boathouse."

It seems to go quiet for a moment as they take it in. But Eddie doesn't hesitate to interrupt it all in his nervousness.

"So you've fought off these monsters before?" He questions, speaking up.

"Yeah," Angie nods, "A couple of times, actually."

"What was it like?" Eddie asks, his gaze pinned on Angie's scar.

She instinctively pulls her short back down to cover the better half of it, "It was, uh... not fun." she attempts to joke, "but it was something that needed to be done."

"Did you ever think to tell me about?"

Angie sighs, "Yeah... all the time. I hate keeping secrets from you."

"Then, uh, why didn't you tell me?" He mumbles, clearly hurt by her lack of transparency.

"Because I wanted to keep you safe," she replies, gesturing to the situation unfolding before them, "I didn't want you to have this life-- the life of constant anxiousness and terror."

"Does it get any easier?"

She shrugs, "I guess, in some ways... but the trauma never really leaves you."

"You're pretty quiet over there, Harrington," he jests, "Nothing to say?"

"I mean, not really," he grins, "this is my fourth time around, and I still hate it."

"Huh," Eddie nods, tipping his hat to them, "So this has been going on for a while then?"

"5 years of this hellhole," Angie scoffs, clearly not too jazzed about everything resurfacing.

"So, I know that the 'dog attack' was just a cover up, but--"

"No," she interrupts, "I really did get attacked by a dog. It just, uh, wasn't your normal dog."

"It was from that freak dimension?"

She nods, allowing him to continue.

"Out of all the weird things that have happened in this town, which ones were coverups?" He scoffs, shaking his head.

"Yeah," Steve smacks his lips, allowing Angie to get comfortable in his lap, "Pretty much all of them. Will Byers' disappearance. The dog attack--"

"--The Mall--"

"-- Pretty much anything connected to the lab--"

"--Not to mention, our newest concern: the deaths of Chrissy, Fred, and the near death of Max."

"Hm," he hums, picking at his nails, "So we're screwed?"

"Not necessarily," Angie mutters, trying to comfort him, "the others went to check out a lead today. Maybe they discovered something that could help us."

He scoffs, "Not with our luck."

"We've always made it through before," Steve shrugs, trying to conceal any anxiousness, "we just have to trust that we could do it again."

His statement calms his brain enough for the time being.

Hours seem to go by before there's any serious movement. They fill the time with pointless banter and scattered conversation-- at least until Eddie grows nervous again.

"I know you've, like, done this before and everything. But, are you sure that staying here is the best idea, sis?" He questions, nudging her side.

"No," she admits, sitting up from Steve's lap, "but it might be the safest option."

"Yeah, I'm not so sure about that," Steve mumbles, spotting flashlights coming their way.

"Alright," she scrambles, "everyone in the boat."

They pile in quickly as the older two row it out onto the lake.

"Try to stay low," she gestures, pushing them further down.

There's a faint laugh from the shore followed by a shout.

"Hey freaks!" Jason's voice echoes, "Where do you think you're going?"

A string of cuss words fall from their lips as Eddie tries to get the motor kicked on.

"Come on," he begs, growing worried, "Just... come on... you piece of shit."

"Hurry up," Angie orders, pulling on the sleeve of his jacket.

"I'm trying," he laughs nervously, leaning down as if the motor can hear him, "Come on. You've gotta help me out here, man."

Steve yanks at him, "The thing isn't gonna move, dude. Just go!"

He continues pulling at it, "Come on,"

Angie spots Jason swimming out to them, "Just row, Eddie," she shouts, shoving an oar in his hand.

"Fine," he grumbles taking it.

As Jason and his buddy approach the boat, Eddie grows more worried.

"Move faster, Harrington," he grumbles.

"Just row, Munson," Steve repeats, following Angie's orders.

But, suddenly, Jason stops, looking back at his friend.

"Hey, come on. Let's go," he shouts, "We almost have them."

However, he doesn't seem to get a response.

"Hey, Patrick... Patrick!" He continues to no avail, which peaks Angie's interest.

She opens her mouth to shout at them when Patrick is ripped below the surface of the water.

"Holy shit," she gasps, grabbing the others' attention, "guys, look."

Patrick's body is thrown into the air, just as Max's had the day before.

Eddie is stunned and falls backward into the water.

Angie shouts for him, nearly leaping into the lake after him.

He emerges from the water with a gasp.

"Eddie, thank God," she mutters as he reaches for her, "Get back in the boat."

"Angie," Steve calls, gesturing to Patrick's broken body falling back into the water, "We need to get out of here. Now."