Etta held a bag of shopping the next day, bringing it
to Eddie with the others so he'd have some supplies.
They walked over to the shed, opening the door
whilst scaring Eddie in the process.
"Delivery service." Dustin smiled.
Everyone put down their stuff, Etta handing Eddie a
box of cereal when he sat back in the boat, eating it
from the box.
"So, we got, uh, some bad news and some good
news." Dustin informed him. "How do you prefer it?"
"Bad news first, always." Eddie stated, drinking his
YooHoo with his mouth full.
"Not a bad idea." Etta mumbled.
"Alright, bad news. We tapped into Hawkins PD
dispatch with our cerebro, and they're definitely
looking for you." Dustin explained. "Also, they're
pretty convinced you killed Chrissy."
"Like, 100% kinda convinced." Max added.
"And the good news?" Eddie questioned.
"Your name hasn't gone public. Yet." Etta replied.
"But if we found out about you, its a matter of time
before others do too." Robin stated. "And once that
gets out, everyone and their shallow-minded mother
is gonna be gunning for you."
"Hunt the freak, right?" Eddie muttered.
"Unfortunately, yes." Etta nodded.
"Shit." Eddie sighed.
"So, before that happens, we need to find Vecna, kill
him, and prove your innocence." Dustin explained.
"That's all Dustin? That's all?" Eddie asked
sarcastically.
"Yeah, no, that's pretty much it." Dustin nodded.
"Jesus." Etta mumbled.
"Listen, Eddie, I know everything Dustin is saying
sounds totally delusional, but we've actually been
through this kinda thing before." Robin admitted. "
mean they have a.. a few times, and.. and I have
once. Mine was more human flesh based, theirs
more smoke related, but bottom line is, collectively, I
really think we got this."
"Yeah, see we usually rely on this girl who had
superpowers." Steve spoke up. "But, uh, those went
bye-bye So.."
"So we're technically in more of the-" Etta waved
her hands around, trying to find the right words,
making Max smile a very small smile.
"Kinda..." Steve muttered.
"Brainstorming phase." Max finished making Etta
nod
"Brainstorming." Steve clicked his fingers.
"There's.. there's nothing to worry about." Dustin
spluttered reassuringly. Steve scoffed, Etta
snapping her head when sirens when off nearby.
"Crap nuggets." Etta muttered.
"Tarp. Tarp." Robin stated. Eddie layed down, pulling
saud thong over his head as they rushed to the
window.
Etta watched as police cars drove past, and one
ambulance. Etta assumed there had been another
incident.
•••••••••••••
Heading towards the trailer park, the group left
Eddie and hopped in Steve's car. Once arriving at
the scene, Star saw a couple of police cars and the
ambulance.
They got out the car, all looking at Nancy as she
talked to the police officer. When she saw them,
Nancy realised what was happening.
After a few moments of chatter and exchanges they
were able to go inside the trailer park - where they
sat on the benches. Explaining everything they knew
to Nancy.
"So you're saying that this thing that killed Chrissy
and Fred, it's from the Upside-down?" Nancy asked.
"If the shoe fits." Etta nodded.
"Our working theory is that he attacks with a spell or
curse." Dustin explained. "Now whether or not he's-"
"Or she." Etta spoke up with a huff. "We don't know
it's gender."
"Fine- we don't know whether they're doing the
bidding of the Mind Flayer or just loves killing teens,
we don't know. Happy?" Dustin asked, turning to
Etta, who nodded.
"All we know is that this is something different." Max
stated. "Something new.
"Doesn't make sense." Nancy said.
"It's only a theory." Etta defended.
"No, Fred and Chrissy don't make sense. I mean,
why them?" Nancy asked.
"Maybe they were just in the wrong place." Dustin
shrugged. "They were both at the game."
"And near the trailer park." Max noted.
"We're at the trailer park." Steve stated. "Uh, should
we maybe not be here?"
"There is something about this place." Nancy
admitted. "Fred started acting weird the second we
got here."
"Acting weird as in...?" Robin questioned.
"Scared, on edge, upset." Nancy listed.
"Max, you said Chrissy was upset too, right?" Etta
asked and she nodded.
"Yeah. But not here." Max corrected. "She was
crying in the bathroom at school."
"Serial killers stalk their pray before they strike,
right?" Robin asked. "So maybe Fred and Chrissy saw this vecman-"
"Vecna." Etta and Dustin corrected.
"I Dunno about you guys, but if I saw some creepy
wizard monster, I would mention it to someone."
Steve admitted, scratching his face.
"Maybe they did." Max stated. "I saw Chrissy leaving
Ms Kelly's office. If you saw a monster, you.. you
wouldn't go to the police. They'd never believe you.
But you might go to your-"
"Your shrink." Robin interrupted.
Etta and the others hopped up, planning to see Ms
Kelley. They headed to Steve's car, Nancy turning
towards her own.
"'Whoa, whoa. Nance, Nance! Where you going?"
Steve asked.
"Oh, there's just something I wanna check on first."
Steve explained.
"Something you wanna share with the class?" Etta
raised a brow.
"don't wanna waste your time. It's a real shot in the
dark." Nancy admitted.
"Yeah, okay. Are you out of your mind? Flying solo
with Vecna creep on the loose?" Steve questioned.
"No, it's too dangerous. You need... you need
someone to.. here, I'll stick with Nance." Steve
threw his keys to Robin.
"You guys take the car, check out the shrink." Steve
instructed.
"I don't think you want me driving your car." Robin admitted.
"Why?" Steve questioned.
"I don't have a license." Robin stated.
"Why don't you have a license?" Steve asked in a
more dumbfounded tone.
"I'm poor." Robin said like it was obvious.
"I can drive." Max suggested.
"No, never again. Please. Anybody but you. No."
Steve refused, clearly traumatised, frowning at a
smiling Dustin. "Not a chance."
"I could try, I might hit some things.. or people."
Etta winced.
"Nope, terrible argument." Steve shook his head.
"All right, this is stupid." Robin stated, she took a
walkie and handed Steve his car keys back. "Us
ladies will stick together."
"What about us?" Etta huffed.
"No, Steve and Dustin need you." She said before
turning to Steve. "Unless you think we need you to
protect us."
"Be careful." Steve told them as they walked to
Nancy's car.
"Are you just gonna stand there and gawk?" Dustin teased.
"Shut up." Steve muttered walking to the drivers
side.
"Why don't we just go?" Etta chuckled, hopping in
the back.
"Shut up and get in the car." Steve grumbled. "Wipe
your feet." Dustin wiped his feet on the inside of
Steve's car as he got in. "On the outside, not the
inside."
"In his defence, you weren't specific." Etta joked.
"Always the babysitter." Steve complained, putting
his keys in the ignition. "Always the goddam
babysitter."
"Yeah, the best one ever." Etta smiled as they drove
Off.
••••••••••••
They arrived outside the Therapists and sat in the
car for a moment. "Max, you should go in." Dustin
stated.
"What, why me?" Max questioned.
"You have sessions right?" He asked, and she looked
down.
"Fine." Max sighed.
"Are you sure you want to?" Etta asked.
"It's our best option." Max muttered awkwardly, not
making eye contact with her. "It's fine."
Max hopped out the car, Etta watching with a sigh
as she walked up to the house.
"Okay, she's in." Steve informed.
'I'm missing collarbones, not eyes." Dustin retorted.
"So.. We gonna talk about it?" Etta asked.
"Huh? Sorry talk about what?" Steve asked, the
siblings glanced at each other knowingly.
"Your temporary insanity earlier today when you
basically threw yourself at Nance?" Dustin explained.
"Okay, first of all, that's not what happened." Steve
denied.
"Pretty sure it is, but whatever helps you sleep at
night, my friend." Etta nodded.
"It was pretty public. There were alot of witnesses."
Dustin added.
"Are you implying I still have a thing for Nance?"
Steve questioned.
"No, of course we're not implying it." Etta rolled her
eyes playfully.
"'We're stating it. And, as it relates to your steadfast
refusal to date Robin, it's pretty much the only
logical explanation." Dustin informed him.
"That's not the only one." Steve argued, and Etta
nodded. She was the only other person who knew of
Robin's true sexuality. "And as for Nance, I was trust
trying to protect a friend."
Etta and Dustin held cheeky smiles. "Just a friend
Hendersons, okay?" Steve said.
"Oki doki." Etta smiled.
"I don't wanna find her in the morning with her eyes
sucked out of her skull by this Vecna creep." Steve
explained.
"You're like bright red in the face right now." Dustin
chuckled.
"Aww." Etta gushed jokingly.
"No I'm not. I don't wanna talk about it. I'Il punch you
so hard your teeth will fall back out." Steve threatened making their faces drop.
"Woah, man." Etta frowned.
"Woah. Too far." Dustin explained.
"Not cool. I'm sorry." Steve apologised sincerely.
"Not cool. It's okay." Dustin assured him. Etta put
her fist forwards, and the trio fist bumped.
Etta sat back, playing with her rings. She took some
off, twisting some of them as she waited.
"Here she comes. Here she comes." Steve muttered
after a couple of minutes when Max walked back out
to the car.
"What'd she say?" Dustin asked.
"Nothing, just drive." Max told them as she buckled
"Nothing?" Steve questioned.
"Steve, drive." Max instructed.
"Okay." Steve mumbled.
"Are you okay?" Etta whispered.
'I'm fine." Max nodded, looking away from her,
making her sigh.
As they drove, suddenly the walkie-talkie went off.
"Dustin. Its Lucas, do you copy?" Lucas questioned.
"Lucas? Where the hell have you been?" Dustin
asked.
"Just listen. Are you looking for Eddie?" Lucas
asked.
"Yeah, we found him. No thanks to you." Dustin
retorted.
"You found him?" Lucas questioned.
"A boathouse on Coal Mill Road." Dustin explained.
"Don't worry. He's safe."
'You guys know he killed Chrissy, right?" Lucas
asked making Star scoff.
"That's bullshit." Dustin stated. "Eddie tried to save
Chrissy."
"Then why do all the cops say he did it?" Lucas
asked.
"Dude, they're stupid." Etta sighed, taking the
walkie. "You are so far behind right now, it's
unethically ridiculous."
"Just meet us at school." Max instructed. "We'll
explain later."
"I.. I can't. I think some real bad shit's about to go
down." Lucas admitted.
"What are you on about? What bad shit?" Etta
sighed.
"Lucas? Lucas?" Max asked, they got no response.
•••••••••••••••
"Dustin, do you copy?" Etta heard Robin on the
walkie as they walked towards the school.
"Yeah, I copy." Dustin answered, Etta walking beside
him.
"Do, Nancy's a genius. Vena's first victims date
back all the way to 1959." Robin explained. "Her
shot in the dark was a bull's-eye."
"Okay." Dustin said as they walked into the school
towards the Therapists office. "That's totally
bonkers, but I can really talk right now."
"Wait, what are you doing?" Robin questioned.
"Breaking and entering into the school to retrieve
confidential and extremely personal files." Dustin
stated.
"Can you repeat that?" Robin requested.
"Just get your ass over here, stat." Dustin replied,
"We'll explain everything."
They arrived at the office, Max using the key she
stole to open the door. They walked inside and Max
walked over to the file cabinet.
"It's like a mini water gate or something." Dustin
commented.
"Holy shit." Max muttered.
"You find it?" Etta asked walking over.
"Yeah, and not just Chrissy's file. Fred was seeing
Ms Kelley too." Max explained, pulling out the file.
"We should see what they have in common." Etta
stated.
"Let's have a look." Max agreed. She grabbed the
other file, sitting at the desk as she looked through
the notes. She began looking at Chrissy's and turned
to Steve.
"Can I see Fred's file?" Max asked.
"Yeah." Steve nodded, passing her the file. They
looked at each of their symptom and Etta noticed a
pattern.
"Max, what is it?" Dustin asked.
Etta looked over and saw Max had Zoned out,
creating worry to errupt in her chest. "Max? Max?"
Etta asked. "Hey, Max! Are you okay? What's up?
Max!"