𝗯𝗲𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗱𝗲𝗻.

twenty six.

VECNA'S CURSE

edited.
2464 words.

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"My heart can't take it anymore, I just can't take it."

Charlie nodded in agreement. Of course a body was discovered the moment she had gotten back into town. It seemed Hawkin's still had tragedies befalling it even after the gate was closed.

The doorbell rang, Dustin standing from the couch to go answer it. Charlie followed behind him, waving to his mother as she left the room. She rounded the corner finding the door already open, a familiar redhead standing in its entry.

"Max!"

Charlie quickly threw herself at the girl, Max stumbling back a few steps. "C-Charlie hey...I thought you were getting into town later..."

Charlie pulled away, smiling brightly. "My flight was moved. I missed you so much." She stepped back, noticing the redhead's shift in demeanor.

Max looked between Dustin and Charlie, gulping down the lump in her throat. "We need to talk."

Five minutes later they were seated on Dustin's bed, Max pacing back at forth in front of them. She looked distraught and exhausted. Like she hadn't been getting any sleep for a while now.

"Chrissy Cunnigham? You're sure it was Chrissy?" Charlie fiddled with the stuffed bear in her lap as she watched Dustin pick at his nails.

"Yes, she was in her cheerleader outfit. Same thing she was in when I saw her with Eddie." Max explained, Dustin turning to her.

"Did you tell all this to the cops?" Max shook her head, "No- No, but I can't be the only one who saw them together. I mean they stood out."

Charlie frowned, she had heard about Eddie through Dustin and was excited to meet him but why would he be involved in a murder?

"Eddie the freak with Chrissy the cheerleader?"

"Exactly. You know, his name's not in the news yet or anything but I guarantee you Eddie is suspect number one right now."

Dustin stopped in front of Max, looking at her in bewilderment. "That's crazy. Eddie didn't do this, no way."

Max hesitated in agreeing, Dustin furrowing his brows. "No way." He repeated, much more sternly.

"Well we can't rule it out!" Max argued.

Dustin shook his head in disbelief. "Yes we can!"

"Dustin!"

"You don't know him like I do Max. Okay? When we got to high school Lucas made all his sports friends. Mike and me? I mean- no one was nice to us, no one except for Eddie."

Charlie frowned, Dustin had vented to her about the rift in their party and how they were drifting from each other but she didn't know it was this bad.

"Okay well, they said the same shit about Ted Bundy. He's like uh- a super nice guy but then he's murdering women on the weekend."

Dustin looked appalled. "So you're saying Eddie is like Ted Bundy?"

"N-No! I'm not saying- I'm saying that we can't presume anything, okay?" Dustin threw his hands up, falling onto the bed beside Charlie. "But it doesn't look good for Eddie." Max finished, both kids sighing.

"Why haven't you told the cops this?" Charlie spoke for the first time, both kids turning to look at her.

Dustin nodded. "Good point, why haven't you?" He questioned, Max rubbing her arm as she looked to the floor.