CHAPTER FOUR:
EDDIE 'THE FREAK' MUNSON

🤍🥀

LIZ HAD TROUBLE sleeping that night. The thought of the horror they had endured the last couple of years coming back again, haunted her every thought. Liz and her friends had endured and beat it once before but they always had Eleven with them. This time, Eleven was in California, very far away from Hawkins. Liz wondered how they were going to beat whatever was happening without their superpowered friend. Liz needed to have hope but she was struggling to keep it around.

Liz and the others gathered some supplies early that morning to bring to Eddie. It was obvious to Steve and Max that Liz was worried. Steve had tried to reassure her that it was going to be fine just like it had been before but Liz still couldn't shake the feeling that it was different this time. There was something in the air that was off and Liz couldn't explain besides that she had a feeling.

Early that morning, the gang had gone to the grocery store to pick up some food and supplies for Eddie. They had several grocery bags full of items that Liz hoped would hold Eddie over for a few days while they figured out how to clear his name. Liz held a couple of bags as Dustin pushed the metal door of the boathouse open. As he did, there was a loud bang and a curse from Eddie who seemed startled.

Dustin smiled, "Delivery service."

Eddie sighed in relief. Liz and the others handed him the grocery bags. Eddie took them happily and immediately started to go through them. Eddie took a seat as he grabbed a box of cereal and immediately started stuffing his face. Liz wondered how long he had gone without food.

"So we got, uh, some good news and some bad news," Dustin explained. "How do you prefer it?"

With a mouth full of cereal, Eddie replied, "Bad news first, always."

"All right. Bad news," Dustin nodded. "We tapped into the Hawkins PD dispatch with our Cerebro, and they're definitely looking for you. Also, they're, uh, pretty convinced you killed Chrissy."

"Like, a hundred percent kind of convinced," Max added.

   Liz nodded along with Max, "Yeah, it's not great."

"And the good news?" Eddie asked.

"Your name hasn't gone public yet, but if we found out about you, it's only a matter of time before others do, and once that gets out, everyone and their shallow-minded mother is gonna be gunning for you," Robin explained to Eddie. Liz frowned at Eddie's defeated expression. Eddie didn't deserve what he was going through.

Eddie scoffed, "Hunt the freak, right?"

Liz nodded, "Exactly."

"Shit," Eddie cursed.

"So, before that happens, we need to find Vecna, kill him, and prove your innocence," Dustin explained to Eddie like it was the simplest task in the whole world.

"That's all, Dustin?" Eddie asked, seeming stressed. "That's all?"

Dustin nodded happily, "Yeah, that's it."

"Listen, Eddie, I know everything Dustin's saying sounds kinda delusional, but we've actually been through this kind of thing before," Robin explained to a stressed-out Eddie. "Well, I mean, they have, a few times and I have once. Mine was more human flesh-based, and theirs was more... smoke-related. But, the bottom line is — collectively — I feel like we've got this."

Liz couldn't disagree more. Usually, Liz was confident in her friends and what they could accomplish, but something felt off and Liz couldn't explain why. Liz was starting to lose some hope in the situation. She had no idea how they were going to clear Eddie's name and how they were going to kill Vecna when they had zero leads about it.

"Yeah, see, we usually rely on this girl who has superpowers, but — uh — those went bye-bye, so..." Steve explained, referring to Eleven who now lived in California.

"So we're technically in more of the..."

"Brainstorming phase," Max finished. Everyone nodded along with her. Liz was still feeling uneasy about the whole thing and made it clear by not participating in the conversation.

"There's nothing to worry about," Dustin smiled. Eddie seemed unconvinced as he stared at Dustin with wide eyes.

The sound of sirens put everyone on edge. Eddie whipped his head around before quickly grabbing the tarp and throwing it over himself as he lay down in the boat. The group ran toward the windows, seeing three cop cars and an ambulance racing down the road. Upon seeing the commotion, the group piled into Steve's car again and sped off down the road, following the ambulance.

As they got down the road, barriers blocked a portion of it. A few people were crowded around the barrier as the police cars and the ambulance pulled in. In the center of the road was a body covered with a white sheet indicating another murder had occurred, but that wasn't the thing that surprised Liz. What surprised Liz was Nancy Wheeler standing by the body and talking to the new police chief. Nancy seemed relieved when Steve and the others stepped out of the car.

Liz and the others followed Nancy to the trailer park where Chrissy had died, and where Max and Eddie lived. Liz was overcome with emotion when she saw the police tape and the trailer where Chrissy had died. Liz missed her and still couldn't believe that she was gone. Liz had blocked out Dustin explaining everything that had happened to Nancy. Max kept her eyes on Liz the entire time that Liz spaced out until Nancy started to ask questions. They all gathered at a picnic table to discuss everything.

"You're saying that this thing that killed Fred and Chrissy, it's from the Upside Down?" Nancy asked, trying to understand the connection.

"If the shoe fits," Steve nodded.

"Our working theory is that he attacks with a spell or -- a curse," Dustin explained his theory. "Now, whether or not he's doing the bidding of the Mind Flayer or just loves killing teens, we don't know."

"All we know is this is something different," Max explained. "Something new."

Liz nodded, "Something bigger."

Nancy shook her head, "Doesn't make sense."

Dustin shrugged, "It's only a theory."

"No, Fred and Chrissy don't make sense," Nancy elaborated. "I mean, why them?"

"Wrong place, wrong time," Liz shrugged, guessing. "Maybe."

"They were both at the game," Dustin pointed out.

"And near the trailer park," Max added.

Steve looked around, "We're at the trailer park. Uh... should we maybe not be here?"

Liz looked around. The police tape and what had happened to Chrissy, made Liz feel uneasy. Nancy agreed with her as she said, "There is something about this place. Fred started acting weird the second we got here. Scared, on edge, upset."

"Max said Chrissy was upset, too," Dustin pointed out.

"Yeah, but not here," Max shook her head. "She was crying in the bathroom at school." Max turned to Liz. "Liz, you knew her the best. Was she acting weird before she...?"

Liz thought back to how Chrissy had been a little distant a few days before her death. She had gotten quiet and seemed on edge all the time, "Yeah, she was acting the opposite of what she usually does. She was smiling less and getting quiet. She seemed like something was going on but she wouldn't talk to me about it."

"Serial killers stalk their prey before they strike, right?" Robin started, getting an idea in her head. "So, maybe Fred and Chrissy saw this... Vec... Man —"

"Vecna," Dustin corrected.

"I dunno about you guys but if I saw some freaky wizard monster, I would mention it to someone," Steve shrugged. Liz rolled her eyes but still agreed with her brother.

"Maybe they did..." Max said. "I saw Chrissy leaving Miss Kelley'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 nodded.

Everyone got up from the table and headed towards Steve's car. They were going to take Max to Miss Kelley's house and see if she could find out any information about Chrissy and why she had been seeing Miss Kelley. Liz opened one of the back doors as Nancy started to make her way to her car. Steve asked Nancy where she was going and Nancy informed them that she needed to check something out that she was assuming to be a shot in the dark. Liz was confused but Nancy refused to explain what exactly she needed to check on.

"Flying solo with Vecna on the loose?" Steve scoffed. "No, it's too dangerous. You need... You need someone to..." Nancy raised an eyebrow at Steve until he tossed his car keys to Robin. "Here. I'll stick with Nance. You guys take the car, check out the shrink."

"I don't think you want me driving your car," Robin warned Steve who questioned why. "I don't have a license."

Steve furrowed his brows, "Why don't you have a license?"

Robin shrugged, "I'm poor."

"I can drive," Max offered.

"No, no! Never again. Please," Steve denied. Liz couldn't help but chuckle at Steve's reaction. Liz remembered the last time Max had driven Steve's car and how they had all almost died. "Anybody but you! No!"

Dustin shrugged, suggesting himself but Steve shook his head, "No chance."

Liz hesitantly raised her hand but Steve shot her down as well, "Don't even think about it, Liz."

"All right, okay. This is stupid," Robin sighed before grabbing a flashlight from Dustin's bag and giving Steve his keys back, and heading over to Nancy. "Us ladies will stick together. Unless you think we need you to protect us?"

Steve shot Robin an annoyed look before calling out, "Be careful!"

"You just gonna stand there and gawk?" Dustin asked. Liz couldn't help but wanna ask the same question. Liz already knew that Steve wasn't over Nancy but he was making it increasingly obvious as he worried and stared at her.

"Shut up. Always the babysitter," Steve sighed as he got in the car and started it. "Always the goddamn babysitter!"

They quickly made their way to Miss Kelley's home. Steve parked a little way down the street and Max rushed out, going to Miss Kelley's door. Liz, Steve, and Dustin watched from the car as Miss Kelley answered the door. As Max walked in, she looked back at Steve's car, prompting Steve to announce, "Okay, she's in."

Liz rolled her eyes, "Yes, Steve. We can all see."

"I'm missing collarbones, not eyes," Dustin nodded. A moment of silence went by before Dustin changed the subject. "So... we gonna talk about... it?"

Liz furrowed her brows in confusion as did Steve, "Huh? Sorry, talk about what?"

"Your temporary insanity earlier today when you basically threw yourself at Nance," Dustin explained, prompting Steve to deny the whole thing. "Pretty sure that's what happened. It was pretty public. There were like a lot of witnesses. Right, Liz?"

Liz nodded, "You practically had hearts in your eyes."

Steve scoffed, "You two implying I still have a thing for Nance?"

Dustin shook her head, "No, I'm not implying. I'm stating, and, as it relates to your steadfast refusal to date Robin, it's pretty much the only logical explanation."

Liz bit her lip at Dustin's words. Liz was out to Dustin and the rest of her friends but Robin wasn't out to anybody besides Steve and Liz. Due to that fact, Dustin had been pushing for Steve to date Robin ever since Dustin had met Robin. Liz knew that Steve had a crush on Robin originally and if Robin was straight, he would want to date her, but due to Robin liking girls, they were just best friends. Dustin, however, didn't know that, so he constantly brought it up.

"That's not the only one," Steve hinted. "And as for Nance, I was just trying to protect a friend." Dustin nodded with a smirk, not believing Steve. "A friend, Henderson, okay? I don't wanna find her in the morning with her eyes sucked out of the front of her skull by this Vecna creep."

Dustin chuckled, "You're like bright red in the face right now."

Steve scoffed and shook his head, "No, I'm not. I don't wanna talk about it. I'll punch you so hard your teeth will fall back out."

Liz narrowed her eyes and scolded Steve, "Steve."

"Whoa," Dustin frowned. "Too far."

Steve sighed and nodded, "Not cool. I'm sorry."

"So... Liz..." Dustin turned around and looked at Liz who was sitting in the backseat, her legs pulled up to her chest as she watched Miss Kelley's door. "You and Max —"

Liz sighed, not wanting to talk about her and Max, "Don't even think about trying to talk to me about that, Dustin."

"Yeah, dude, leave her alone," Steve placed a hand on Dustin's arm and shook his head at Dustin, knowing that Liz didn't like talking about it.

The seriousness on Steve's face made Dustin shut his mouth immediately. Dustin thought that Liz and Max needed to get back together. He thought they were a perfect couple and he knew they still cared for each other deeply. He also knew that Liz was in love with Max as Dustin was the first person Liz had admitted it to. Liz wasn't able to think about it too much as Max rushed out of Miss Kelley's house and sprinted back toward the car. Liz furrowed her brows as Max looked like she was in a hurry and kept looking back at the house.

"You okay?" Liz asked.

"What'd she say?" Dustin asked.

"Nothing, just drive," Max urged.

Steve furrowed his brows, "Nothing?"

"Steve, drive!" Max shouted.

Liz furrowed her brows, extremely confused as to what had happened in there to make Max in a hurry to leave. Liz sat up and placed her feet back on the floor, "Max, what happened?"

Max reached into her pocket and pulled out some keys that were labeled, Office, "I stole the keys to her office. I wanna look at her patient files and see what Fred and Chrissy were talking to her about."

Liz raised an eyebrow, utterly shocked at Max's actions. Steve looked just as shocked but obeyed Max and started heading toward Hawkins High.

🤍🥀

[ 2.4K WORDS ]

I was too lazy to edit this so if there are mistakes I apologize!