Mutants|| Reddie [DISCONTINUED]

XV

"If no one from the future comes to stop you, then how bad of a plan can it really be?"

"Woah," Richie murmured as they halted to a stop at the side of the laboratory. "It's huge . . ."

Eddie shivered, brushing his fingertips against the wire fence that snaked all the way around the lab. Richie squeezed his shoulder.

"You okay, Eds?"

"Yeah." Eddie set his face in determination. "Come on."

Bill extended his arm, slowly crushing a section of the fence. They clambered over, coming to a halt in front of a small side door.

"Okay, be right back," Richie said, and quickly morphed into an ant. He disappeared from sight until, after a short pause, the door swung open.

Eddie stood rooted to the spot. He stared inside until everything around it just seemed to drop into some large black pit, as though he was staring into a peephole or-

"Eddie-"

Eddie gasped, his vision clearing. He looked down, embarrassed. "Sorry."

"Don't apologize!" Richie said urgently. He paused. "Eds, you really don't have to come. We'd all understand."

"No!" Eddie insisted. "I'm coming." He looked around swiftly. "C'mon," he said, and led the way.

I'm going back going back am I fucking insane?

No-

It's different this time. I'm coming in on my own terms. I'm not alone. And we're not staying.

(what if-)

Don't think that don't think that don't-

(what if mommy's there)

No-

"R-remeber the puh-puh-plan," Bill said quietly. "We stick to-to-to-together. And Stuh-Stan-" he turned towards him. "You're lookout. Ih-if anything g-g-goes wrong out h-here, you te-tell us."

Stan nodded, though he didn't look overly excited about the prospect of staying out while they all went in. As they turned to walk further in, he said, "Just- be careful, okay?"

The door closed with a click behind them and Eddie took a deep shuddering breath.

As the others looked around for security cameras, Eddie closed his eyes, blocking out their skittering thoughts. He gradually heard an unfamiliar mind, coming nearer and nearer. "Guys."

"Bill, where are the cameras-"

"Guys!"

They all stopped and turned towards him. "Someone's coming," Eddie said urgently.

Ben and Richie had it easy. Ben simply flickered out of sight and Richie turned into a fly, buzzing to the ceiling. The others looked around frantically.

The hallway was bare, a drab off-white color. There were no hiding spots in sight. Footsteps echoed closer and closer towards them from another room.

Ben's head popped into sight. "Grab on!" he whispered.

"What?"

He huffed in frustration. "I might be able to turn you invisible. Hold onto me."

They huddled around him. The moment they flashed out of sight, a man turned the corner to them.

"He's a janitor," Bev muttered.