𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐝𝐲 ⟿ s. harrington

𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐡𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐞

THE DEVIL ON YOUR SHOULDER

☀︎

SILENCE FILLED EDDIE MUNSON'S TRAILER ONCE RETURNED FROM THE UPSIDE DOWN. Not a word was spoken amongst the group as their eyes shifted around, waiting for anyone to say something first. To question either Alex or Nancy felt dangerous. The two sat there, unmoving and unfazed as they stared blankly out before them, replaying everything they faced against Vecna.

Whenever anyone made a grab to take Alex's hand, she moved it away, unwilling to let anyone touch her. Knowing the truth Vecna had shown her, everything she did felt damaging. Once more, she was the curse. Holding his head in his hands, Steve sat beside her, feeling lost and broken that whatever she had seen, she would never return from.

Shifting in his spot, Dustin looked over to Eddie but the sound of his clothes rustling against one another had Alex's eyes land on his. There was a darkness behind them, only filled with a rage— something that stirred inside her, a darkness created for Vecna, only left to attack and unleash on an innocent. The burn of Vecna's touch haunted her like a ghost against her skin, left to relive the nightmare. It was as if she was forever being pulled into a void of darkness by a creature so vile. It allowed a wave of anger to brew inside of her that she couldn't control. "Why the hell would you say that to me?"

Startled, Dustin turned his eyes over to her. He wasn't sure she had spoken to him or if he had fallen to Vecna's curse because not once had he seen that look in Alex's eyes. It was nothing like before. This time it was all her, no monster taking control— she was terrified, frustrated, and filled with an agonizing amount of guilt and grief that she continued to let bottle up. "I didn't... I didn't say anything." His voice was soft and innocent, wishing that if she heard he meant no harm, she too would soften her tone.

Tears slipped out of Alex's eyes as she pointed at him accusingly. "You told me I was Glen. You did." Throat burning, Alex redirected that finger to her chest as she choked on her own words. "He pretended to kill me like him." Breathing heavily, Alex's lip quivered as she felt every throbbing pain shoot through her body as if she was living it all again. It was an inescapable nightmare that even free would continue to haunt her. The things she felt, the words spoken to her, would forever burn into her memory with no freedom to flee from the nightmare. "I-I couldn't breathe, I thought I was dead. Just like Glen. Because of what you said to me." Her vision was clouded as her hand fell back into her lap, wringing both her hands together until she felt her skin to feel on fire.

"Alex, it was a mistake," Nancy whispered. "You can't blame him. What Vecna showed you... it isn't real."

"It's real," Alex snapped at her. Behind her eyes sat a dangerous expression, almost angry. "You should know after what he showed you. He told me. Told me that the only reason he didn't kill you was because he needed you to tell everyone how real it was cause no one... no one believed me. I know it's real because I saw it when I touched Max." At the mention of touching Max, Alex felt herself burst into tears. One touch to someone she loved and she cost them their life. It was unforgivable guilt. "I killed everybody." Holding her head in her hands, Alex continued to sob. "I killed them all."