𝗨𝗚𝗟𝗬 // 𝗦𝘁𝗲𝘃𝗲 𝗛𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘁𝗼𝗻

059

We're crouched beneath the play equipment opposite the Creel house, waiting for the signal, the most metal concert of all time.

The sound of Metallica echoes above us as the bats currently sat on the rooftop turn their pointy heads, ears perking up as they spread their wings and begin to head towards the music.

Master of puppets.

"Well done, Eddie." I say to myself, but the group around me hears and nods in agreement before we sneak over the lawn and to the front door.
Rose stained glass swings open.

Curly hair turns towards me, "Ok Ruby, as soon as we step through that door, music off. He has no reason to target both you and Max so if it's you, remember to buy time for us to kill him."

I nod solemnly, watching Nancy, Robin and Steve walk in front of me.
If Max is targeted, Erica will let us know via radio to start heading upwards, if i'm targeted.. well it'll be obvious, but either way he's not in their heads so he won't know that they're sneaking up the stairs to kill the son of a bitch.

Steve stands close, hand in mine as he steps over vines and clears the path ahead. I do what I'm told, as soon as I step inside, I ready a shaking hand at the stop button on my Walkman, a soft voice still sings as I linger,

I hear your voice,
feels like flying.

Whispering to myself, I finally admit my past thoughts out loud,
"I used to think about my death all the time."

I close my eyes,
Oh God I think I'm falling..

"For a while I convinced myself I'd stopped," I swallow down the guilt, refusing to meet Steve's eyes,

"I'd be in a long yellow dress.. it would flow in the wind," the image is so clear as if it was a past memory I'm recalling,
"My mother would find me and feel nothing, just like the day my father died,"

Out of the sky..

There's a silence in the hallway, the rest of the group are listening,
"I used to imagine my death all the time,"

I close my eyes,
Heaven help me..

I click the button, the music stops,

"I won't do that anymore."

I glance up through my lashes to find an empty hallway, the vines caressing the wall now my only friends, until I notice movement in the corner of my eye.

"You.. used to imagine your death?" It's his voice. Steve's voice.

When I turn to face him his features are red and teary, almost swollen as if he just stopped sobbing, "even with me here..?" Betrayal laces through the question.

"No! Steve it's not like that it's just.. there's so much grief I feel like.. death just follows me."

"Death does follow you!" He's screaming now, his mouth wider then I've ever seen and the in between of his lips dark like a black hole in his throat.
He looks almost uncanny.
Like his jaw is too big for his face, hanging there as he shouts.

Something isn't right here. A light blinks at the end of the hallway and I shift my eyes to stare at where was once blank emptiness, is now a beautiful wooden clock, etch into the wall. Evidence of my demise as a familiar tick rings through my brain.

Vecna hadn't shown me a clock before..

"How are we supposed to grow old together when you don't want to live?!" From behind me, Steve shouts again and I whip my head back around. He's stepping closer, breath cold as it hits me on my cheeks.