Al Munson easily rolled down the window and stuck his hands out, his head followed soon after as he hung. “We don’t need to get messy here little Lady. Mind if I step out of the van?”
“My van.” Adelaine clenched her jaw, her fingers tapping on the cold metal of her stiletto.
“Right, right. Your van.” He nodded slowly.
“Fine, step out.” She said, her tempo quickening with impatience. Al slowly makes his way out, glancing at Eddie and then back at the girl.
“My name is Joe, and that’s my son Jordon.” He says ever so whimsically.
“My highjackers.” She tilts her head. “Why in the hell did you happen to want to steal my shitty van in the first place?”
The older gentleman shrugs his shoulders. “Right place, right time?” He says so casually. Then he walks to the front now, and peers down at the tire. “Now I know we’re crazy for taking your van, but your crazy is matching ours with taking out your own vehicle.”
“Look, I probably more than certainly just lost my fucking job because of you two dip-shits. I’ve walked nearly two and a half hours, mostly in pouring rain and I have little to no more patience left.” Adelaine clenched her jaw harder. “What you two are going to do, is get my jack and spare and change my damn tire and I will be on my merry way so I can find another shitty job in another shitty town after I get home and destress from this absolute god-awful start of the day.”
“Yes ma’am.” Al saluted. He turned to peer at his son again, whose knuckles are white still on the wheel staring at his dad with his anguished, and fearful caramel buttoned eyes. He turns back to her. “No cops?”
“Not if you don’t expend anymore of my patience.” She narrowed her eyes. Al nodded and refrained from saying anything else to her.
“Junior, let’s get this van fixed up for this lovely lady.” He motions for Eddie to leave the drivers seat which Eddie hesitates before slowly making his way out. Her eyes meet his under a burning gaze that makes him shrink. For Eddie, of course the things his father gets up to and he gets reeled into has to end in ablaze one way or another. But to be fair, they did jack her van and he’d be angry just the same.
“Jordon.” Adelaine squints her eyelids further.
“U-uh.” He glances to his father for any semblance of please fucking save me.
“It’s alright Jordon, let’s just get this van fixed up for…” He leaves it hanging so she could give out her name, clamping his hand on his sons shoulder again as he goes to his side.
“Adelaine.” She breathes in as she crosses her arms now. The stiletto still clutched closed in her hand.
“Adelaine.” Al nods. “Tools in the back?”
“Nope. You can pry it off with your bare hands until they bleed.” She shrugs. The boys didn’t really take it in as a joke, at least Eddie, so she concluded. “Yes, they’re in the back. Or did you not have time to take a look before you stole my van?”
Al lets in a sharp hiss. “Well deserved. Let’s finish this junior. She’s letting us off easy let’s keep it that way.” He turns now, and Eddie looks back once.
“Sorry.” His voice wasn’t small like she thought it be, but it was a genuine booming apology. Something made Adeline’s cold expression faulter for just a second. She turned away, pocketing her stiletto and grabbing her bag of snacks. Her eyes peered to the half eaten honey bun she dropped, sighed and pulled out another. She found a place to sit, and dug into her snack as she watched the boys begin to work. She nibbled, letting her nerves finally calm down. At least for the most part. At least they could come to an agreement. She just hopes her spare won’t fail her any time soon, probably gonna need to save up for another just to be safe knowing her luck.
“So, why is a teenager up this early heading to a job apparently three hours away from where she lives?” Al questions, getting the jack secured and pumping the van up. Eddie was kneeling down, searching through the tool box for the right tools but, he was curious too. He was listening intently as casually as possibly. You could tell the way his shoulders untensed. The way his head slightly tilted his ear to the conversation.
“Have to make a living somehow.” Adelaine takes another bite, this one larger than the others.
“You don’t… live in this van do you?” He questions with a little bit of concern. This made Eddie stop organizing the tools he’s gathered. Adelaine looked at them now, really looked at them.
“No. I work far so I crash in my van sometimes, but maybe I should have just said yes and made you feel even more terrible for stealing someone’s possible home huh?” She smirks devilishly. It vanishes at soon as it comes because Eddie now has met her eyes with a serious furrow of his eyebrows.
“We’re sorry. Truly.” Eddie begins. Adelaine gets up dusting her hands as she finishes the last bite of her honey bun.
“Just get my tire done and we can be done with this whole thing. I’m going to take a piss. You guys ride off, I will find you.” She threatens, her finger pointing at them both to add emphasis to her already well heard promise. She then heads off to enter the bar.
Hawkins Indiana
March 27th 1985
Adelaine grips the steering wheel of her ugly yellow Dodge Colt. Or more so, her aunts ugly yellow Dodge Colt. It was a weird day as she packed all her stuff away leaving Indianapolis. Jackie told her she’d always have a place to stay, but as of right now heading back to Hawkins, back to a place she called home once was something she didn’t see she’d do again. But here she was, passing the Welcome to Hawkins Indiana sign in a blistering silence. Her damn radio was broken, and she could feel the thoughts eating away her brain from the inside out.
Okay, so what worried her was her mother. But as she’s catatonic in the Asylum, her BIGGEST worry was Eddie Munson. She kept biting the inside of her lip, picking at the dry skin at the edge. She didn’t need to run into him right away, but that feeling deep within her - that feeling of knowing a hole was in her heart because she left him behind in this god forsaken town, kinda made her guilt and shame bolster. Staying away, when everything kept going wrong. When she thought it was the best solution, when she thought her aunt’s death was another reason to stay away and not come back to the only person who made everything feel okay…
She missed him. She missed him every fucking day. It was crazy how they went from hey assholes why the hell did you think it was a good idea to steal my van, to, I love you with everything in my being but I’m going to leave because I’m to scared to admit it out loud and I don’t want to lose another person in my life like everyone else so it’s best to just disappear. Holy fucking hell. She was a fucking asshole. Of fucking course Eddie wouldn’t want anything to do with her after she up and vanished… why would he?
Her knuckles started turning into another questioning white. “Stupid.” She muttered. She’ll head straight to the Hideout to meet Bev who was kind enough to give her a job as a bartender. Compared to when she was just a barback, back in the day. Along side Eddie. The memories give her shivers running up her spine.
This isn’t just about rekindling a friendship, or whatever it was between them. It’s about her mom, and seeing if she can finally have her under her care no matter what it takes. She was only a child being taken care of by her aunt… she didn’t get a say on wondering why her mother wasn’t just at home being taken care by the both of them. At least she would have been there, right?
A hard sigh left her lips. What a strange day to be back in Hawkins. Of course she’s heard from a city away all the tragedies they’ve been going through. People missing. Kids dying and apparently coming back to life? She shakes her head. “Keep it together Sallow.”
Her route was beelining to the Hideout, but as she neared the Forest Hills Trailer Park her heart sank. Does he even still live here anymore? Did he get out? What about Uncle Wayne? Her throat became dry, a lump sat uncomfortably. Wouldn’t hurt to look; right? So as she approached, she made a right entering the trailer park. Memories flashed like a stockade, a film reel of the van swerving into the trailer park like a bat out of hell after being clocked at Lovers Lake and the absolute calling card of sweet reefer trailblazing behind them.
A small smile floods her expression. They were a pair for sure. Hawkins PD didn’t enjoy the duo they had become. Especially Jim Hopper. As she pulled closer to Eddie’s trailer, there she saw sitting in all its glory, her old van. A choked out laugh escaped her, and she stopped short at the picnic table looking it over. He really kept it. It was well loved from her vantage point in the mid afternoon this Saturday. She sat there, her car turned off and she wondered if knocking on the door and ripping this badaid off was a good idea. Her fingers tapped her steering wheel. Uncle Wayne is probably also sleeping, so she didn’t want to be a bother since he had always worked the third shift. But as she looked her old van over, she could see the dust caking. She shouldn’t be surprised, it was Eddie after all. The only thing he truly treated like his baby was his guitar.
Stepping out of her car, she trotted her way over to the van giving it a look over. On it, littered some band stickers. Black Sabath, Dio, and of course Metallica. An old logo for Corroded Coffin plastered to the right side door for the back. Followed by another relic design for the Hellfire Club she remembered him droning on about like the cute little nerd he was. So very excited, and so very giddy about the club and taking it over. Her hand slid along it, pressing the sticker back into the van but alas it had lost the stick to the edge of the logo a long time ago. Her fingers smudged the dust on the passenger side and then looked to the drivers side. It was caked just the same, still visible. It was perfect.
Making her way to the side of the van where she’ll leave a very cryptic message for only Eddie to decipher, she took her finger and did just that.
Struck by the Moon goes the Bard
It was a nod to an original song called Moonstruck. It was a spell in DnD and inspiration for Eddie when he wrote the song about how he felt for her. She only heard a snippet because he was bashful, it was rough and raw but she didn’t mind waiting at the time to hear it in full. She had wondered if he even finished after she left…
Then she walked off, making her way finally to the Hideout to meet Bev inside. It was nearly two-a-clock, her shift didn’t start until four but she knew Bev wouldn’t mind. Parking her car on the side, she locked it up and went for the doors. Opening the double doors she made her way in being hit with the unmistakable smell of smoke, stale beer and sweat from the patrons of this establishment. The tables still layered with stains, the atmosphere still the same. The crowd was simple today, but she even remembered the face of Old Jakeens sitting at his spot at the end stool to the left. He was passed out, drooling with his head to the side over his arms. Baseball cap half discarded, and jacket hanging like a thread on the back end of the stool.
Bev has stood up from stocking the cooler behind the bar to see whom had walked in making the little dingy bell ring a couple times. Adelaine swears she still hears it in her dreams. Bev’s face had lit up as much as humanly possible for her, she was a hard woman. The grouchy exterior hiding away the caring old grandmother love she held for Adelaine.
“Well look who the cat of Indianapolis dragged in.” Bev says, placing her hand on the counter top.
“Hey Bev, good to see you after all this time.” Adelaide stood a little awkwardly. But she managed to keep looking her in the eye.
“I’m sorry about your aunt. It’s shame. A guess it’s not only Hawkins taking the losses.” Bev pulled her eyebrows inward to show a little bit of compassion. Only a little bit.
“She loved this place, for what it’s worth.” She shrugged.
“Your aunt was a good woman.” She nodded her silent grief only truly visible by those who know Bev. “Have you visited your mother yet?”
Adelaine had finally settled herself at the stool, but she didn’t sit, just leaning against the counter. “No not yet, I just got into town so just accessing the madness I guess.”
“And any particular front runner of a mediocre garag-“
“Is it okay if I start early?” Adelaine cuts her off, making it clear she didn’t want to talk about whom she was going to drone on about. She straightened herself up, accessing her with her dark brown eyes. A tilt of the head and she smiles softly, a soft smile only a few really get so genuinely.
“Still remember how to toss around a few cocktails?” She motions to the wooden gate door to enter behind the bar.
“It’ll be like I never left.” She pressed her lips together, then she headed on behind the bar. The mid afternoon wasn’t as packed as it could be so Adelaine started her shift off easy. It wasn’t long before she was throwing around drafts of Coors, Pabst Blue Label, Bush. Bottles of Schlitz, Shiner Bock and some Old Style along with a few local loved Drewrys. Etc.
The day goes on with regulars she remembered, regulars that she didn’t. It wasn’t too lively, but as she looked to Bev, she could notice the crowed has been eating up the new return of Adelaine. So one look and a nod and that’s all Adelaine needed as she excused herself, tossed her apron to the side and went to the side door to enjoy a break with fresh air.
From her pocket she pulled out a pack of camels, old habits die hard and are brought back by Hawkins. She was trying to figure out her life, and that simply can surface those old habits. She had picked up the pack at the old gas station that her van was ironically stolen in the first place on her way back here.
She lit her cigarette, taking a drag. As she exhaled she looked to the quick darkening sky. It’s going to rain here soon, but that’s okay. She could smell the upcoming storm. So this is her life? One chain of unfortunate events that never leave her life too dull. Another puff, and she closes her eyes as she feels those rain droplets fall down slowly. But she didn’t care, in a way it was centering. Or so she thought.
Another puff.
Why was she really here?
And another.
This was ridiculous. She shouldn’t have left Indianapolis.
A long, cancerous drag.
Jackie was right there, she shouldn’t have messed it up.
She inhaled deeply, until she couldn’t breathe. Tears began to welled up in her eyes.
She’s so fucking stupid, she ruins everything even if Jackie said it was okay. She’d still be there. Why the fuck… why the hell does all this have to keep happening?
Another deep drag and the filter began to burn at her fingertips but she didn’t care. Tears fell. And she turned finally, throwing the bud down and stomping what wasn’t even left. Her hands turned to the brick wall of the Hideout. A croaked little sob left her mouth.
Why did she have hurt everyone around her huh?
She hit the brick wall hard with her fist.
Why’d she have to hurt him? Because she knew, no doubt. The silence, the no calls. The sheer fact he didn’t reach out meant everything he felt about her leaving.
Her fist hit hard against the brick of the wall again, drawing a bruise and blood begin to crawl its way down her fingers from her knuckles. The rain and her tears started to blend together.
Why does she have to feel so cursed?
Before she could let her fist find brick again. She heard it. And felt that unmistakeable rumble. The engine of that god damn van that started it all. She walked to the side of the building to peer into the parking lot as her old van revs into a spot outside the front door. Her wide sea-green eyes stare forward, catching a glimpse of a messy, mop of brown locks that pops out of the drivers side when it opens. Then, a leather jacket catches sun. His eyes look around in a state of determination, a sense of calm and curiosity as his lips are curled into a simple, content grin. He looked around, and before he could meet eyes with her, she slams herself back against the side of the Hideout.
Fuck. Did he see her?
She didn’t give any time to find out as she went to slide back into the chaos of the bar life at peek five pm hours. She keeps her back to the patrons, washing away her destruction to her hand at the back sink. Did he really know she was here? Or was or Tuesday? They played then, she remembered. No.. it wasn’t Tuesday. It was Thursday actually. And she didn’t see Ronnie, Jeff or Doug.
“Adelaine Sallow.” A voice booms from the opposite side of the counter. She tenses up her shoulders, and before she turns to him completely he lets out another line that makes her heart flip with undoubted intensity, like a circus performer on steroids running away from a tiger surrounded by fire. “Got your message on my van.” He says with as a stab. But his next few words are warmer. “Welcome back to Hawkins.”
She finally turns to face him. To face Eddie, an old flame she never was sure needed to be stomped out in the first place. Because who was she kidding? Who was she trying to protect? Him, or herself?
Shit. That’s all she could get out as she stood blinking in absolute disbelief and horror. The spot for her 1971 Chevrolet Beauville Sportsvan now sat empty. The only drag path was skid-marks and some leaking oil she’s yet to fix. Her hands clenched onto her breakfast burrito, and gas stationed coffee that already didn’t have creamer and sugar because apparently you can run out as a gas station this early in the peak third shift hours.
Adelaine, now seeming with pure irritation with how life keeps utterly fucking her, kicks the gravel before her and silently lets out a scream of frustration. What are the odds? Why?! Like actually why?! She huffs, stomping to the curb of the empty gas station parking lot, sits down and begrudgingly scarfs down her burrito and coffee. The bitter sear burning down her throat in a welcoming way matching the hot anger irradiating off of this unfortunate sixteen year old.
After tossing her trash away, grasping for some spare change jiggling in her pockets and apron, she made her way to a payphone to call up her deep sleeping aunt so she didn’t half to walk all the way back home for three hours. Her boss wouldn’t be able to give two shits she just got her van jacked. He’d pay no mind except the fact one of his employees are not coming into work with their incompetent excuses. And Adelaine has had so many as is, another would certainly earn her complete termination. So she hopes at least won’t with the next ten cents she’ll use to call the office. She needs this job.
The phone rings, and rings and rings. She doesn’t have much to her name, so how on earth would she make it there? Via taxi is expensive enough, even for the early eighties. Her aunt could drive an hour and a half out for her but she works so hard and already does so much for her as is. Troubling her any further isn’t ideal. Worrying her, she can’t bear put more stress on her. The phone rings until it ends call, and Adelaine puts the cold payphone itself against her forehead. She leaves it there for a minute before slamming it down on the holder. She could call the police. Probably should but she just burst out the booth and begins walking home. No call for work, no letting her aunt know she was stranded.
And just as if the world couldn’t makes things worse; a dribble splat onto her face as rain began to fall from the sky ever so spitefully. She doesn’t do anything but stop and then deeply sigh. Of fucking course. Because why the fuck not right? Adelaine continues her ever matching spiteful footfall, trailing down the side of a back road interstate of Indiana that she takes normally in her own van. But alas, it is fucking gone now. An hour of rainfall, cold and bitterness passes by. Just her in the dark, stars she could still see as her light; a simple guide and stepping stone to keep her sanity at ease.
She would have her Walkman, but here she now was humming Heaven and Hell by Black Sabbath. Another thirty minutes pass by and she began to see another gas station entering the outskirts to a nearby little town called Fishers on Historic Michigan Road. Anderson was home and her destination. At least it has been since she was four years old before her parents left a town called Hawkins. Her mother still resides there now, as a patient. She rarely gets to see her, her aunt does her best to face her little sister so broken and in misery. Not able to do a single damn thing about it, but Adelaine has gone numb to it. She’s never really known her mother after all. And don’t get her started on her father either. Her blood boils at the thought. It only fuels her anger even more and her steps begin to quicken.
She pushes the doors of the gas station open vigorously. So hard that even the bored cashier is startled. He was an older gentleman, quiet and staying on his side along with sticking to his own business. She grabs water, a few snacks including honey buns and a good old fashioned can of beef jerky.
The cashier looks her up and down with the very undry state and a glance out the window. But he stays silent and rings up her items, bagging them without a peep. The total a whopping two dollars and twenty-five cents. This left her with three cents now, the last of her cash until she hopefully makes it back home.
The cashier grunts, a nod for goodbye and Adelaine gives a nod back for the simple quiet respect of shutting the fuck up. She rushes out of the small little BP, and begins her journey in town. After drinking a good thought out amount of water, she begins to unwrap a honey bun, sink her teeth into it and walk the sidewalk of Fishers. Half way through her walk, and honey bun scanning the area, she notices something that stops her dead in her tracks.
There to her left leading into a side street was what she thought she was hallucinating. At an Inn and bar called The Retreat, outside in all its glory was her god damn van. It was instant, it was fast and before she knew it she had dropped her half finished honey bun, standing right outside the driver side window. Inside was a younger what looks like teenage boy with messy curly hair that hung over the shoulder. In the passenger, an older man that must be in his mid to late thirties: whom she guessed had to be the father to this teenager sitting in her drivers seat.
Before she let them glimpse at her, as they chowed down on what appears to be a late night snack find like her own, Adelaine takes her keys from her pocket, taps the glasses with her knuckles. Alerts them, and jingles the keys deadpan staring at them. This sends a startled muffled scream from the inside of the van that came from the young boy, not much older than Adelaine. And with realization that set instantly into the older man, his skin goes pale at the face but the highjackers kick it into gear as the driver goes to reverses, yet, she was quicker.
She had already dropped her bag, took her stiletto out of her back pocket, sprung it out and as the van began to move back, stabbed the front tire, puncturing it with a satisfying hiss letting it go flat. This stops the kids inside as they’re a couple of feet away from her now. Adelaine moves to stand in the headlights, soaked, angry but soon a smirk of pure satisfaction creeps on her lips as she closes her stiletto. Rain still poured, the light illuminated her with a demanding aura.
“How about you boys come out and see if you can convince me to not call the cops on your sorry asses.” Adelaine yells out loud enough for them to hear. Inside, Alan, or “Al,” Munson looks to his sixteen year old grand theft auto accomplice, and then shakes his head with that Munson Charmed smile of his.
“Guess we’re screwed. Good father-son outing while it lasted, huh junior?” Al asked, clapping a very terrified, doe eyed and flustered Eddie on his shoulder.
Shit. That’s all she could get out as she stood blinking in absolute disbelief and horror. The spot for her 1971 Chevrolet Beauville Sportsvan now sat empty. The only drag path was skid-marks and some leaking oil she’s yet to fix. Her hands clenched onto her breakfast burrito, and gas stationed coffee that already didn’t have creamer and sugar because apparently you can run out as a gas station this early in the peak third shift hours.
Adelaine, now seeming with pure irritation with how life keeps utterly fucking her, kicks the gravel before her and silently lets out a scream of frustration. What are the odds? Why?! Like actually why?! She huffs, stomping to the curb of the empty gas station parking lot, sits down and begrudgingly scarfs down her burrito and coffee. The bitter sear burning down her throat in a welcoming way matching the hot anger irradiating off of this unfortunate sixteen year old.
After tossing her trash away, grasping for some spare change jiggling in her pockets and apron, she made her way to a payphone to call up her deep sleeping aunt so she didn’t half to walk all the way back home for three hours. Her boss wouldn’t be able to give two shits she just got her van jacked. He’d pay no mind except the fact one of his employees are not coming into work with their incompetent excuses. And Adelaine has had so many as is, another would certainly earn her complete termination. So she hopes at least won’t with the next ten cents she’ll use to call the office. She needs this job.
The phone rings, and rings and rings. She doesn’t have much to her name, so how on earth would she make it there? Via taxi is expensive enough, even for the early eighties. Her aunt could drive an hour and a half out for her but she works so hard and already does so much for her as is. Troubling her any further isn’t ideal. Worrying her, she can’t bear put more stress on her. The phone rings until it ends call, and Adelaine puts the cold payphone itself against her forehead. She leaves it there for a minute before slamming it down on the holder. She could call the police. Probably should but she just burst out the booth and begins walking home. No call for work, no letting her aunt know she was stranded.
And just as if the world couldn’t makes things worse; a dribble splat onto her face as rain began to fall from the sky ever so spitefully. She doesn’t do anything but stop and then deeply sigh. Of fucking course. Because why the fuck not right? Adelaine continues her ever matching spiteful footfall, trailing down the side of a back road interstate of Indiana that she takes normally in her own van. But alas, it is fucking gone now. An hour of rainfall, cold and bitterness passes by. Just her in the dark, stars she could still see as her light; a simple guide and stepping stone to keep her sanity at ease.
She would have her Walkman, but here she now was humming Heaven and Hell by Black Sabbath. Another thirty minutes pass by and she began to see another gas station entering the outskirts to a nearby little town called Fishers on Historic Michigan Road. Anderson was home and her destination. At least it has been since she was four years old before her parents left a town called Hawkins. Her mother still resides there now, as a patient. She rarely gets to see her, her aunt does her best to face her little sister so broken and in misery. Not able to do a single damn thing about it, but Adelaine has gone numb to it. She’s never really known her mother after all. And don’t get her started on her father either. Her blood boils at the thought. It only fuels her anger even more and her steps begin to quicken.
She pushes the doors of the gas station open vigorously. So hard that even the bored cashier is startled. He was an older gentleman, quiet and staying on his side along with sticking to his own business. She grabs water, a few snacks including honey buns and a good old fashioned can of beef jerky.
The cashier looks her up and down with the very undry state and a glance out the window. But he stays silent and rings up her items, bagging them without a peep. The total a whopping two dollars and twenty-five cents. This left her with three cents now, the last of her cash until she hopefully makes it back home.
The cashier grunts, a nod for goodbye and Adelaine gives a nod back for the simple quiet respect of shutting the fuck up. She rushes out of the small little BP, and begins her journey in town. After drinking a good thought out amount of water, she begins to unwrap a honey bun, sink her teeth into it and walk the sidewalk of Fishers. Half way through her walk, and honey bun scanning the area, she notices something that stops her dead in her tracks.
There to her left leading into a side street was what she thought she was hallucinating. At an Inn and bar called The Retreat, outside in all its glory was her god damn van. It was instant, it was fast and before she knew it she had dropped her half finished honey bun, standing right outside the driver side window. Inside was a younger what looks like teenage boy with messy curly hair that hung over the shoulder. In the passenger, an older man that must be in his mid to late thirties: whom she guessed had to be the father to this teenager sitting in her drivers seat.
Before she let them glimpse at her, as they chowed down on what appears to be a late night snack find like her own, Adelaine takes her keys from her pocket, taps the glasses with her knuckles. Alerts them, and jingles the keys deadpan staring at them. This sends a startled muffled scream from the inside of the van that came from the young boy, not much older than Adelaine. And with realization that set instantly into the older man, his skin goes pale at the face but the highjackers kick it into gear as the driver goes to reverses, yet, she was quicker.
She had already dropped her bag, took her stiletto out of her back pocket, sprung it out and as the van began to move back, stabbed the front tire, puncturing it with a satisfying hiss letting it go flat. This stops the kids inside as they’re a couple of feet away from her now. Adelaine moves to stand in the headlights, soaked, angry but soon a smirk of pure satisfaction creeps on her lips as she closes her stiletto. Rain still poured, the light illuminated her with a demanding aura.
“How about you boys come out and see if you can convince me to not call the cops on your sorry asses.” Adelaine yells out loud enough for them to hear. Inside, Alan, or “Al,” Munson looks to his sixteen year old grand theft auto accomplice, and then shakes his head with that Munson Charmed smile of his.
“Guess we’re screwed. Good father-son outing while it lasted, huh junior?” Al asked, clapping a very terrified, doe eyed and flustered Eddie on his shoulder.
Adeline had just punctured a front tire of her stolen 1971 Chevrolet Sportvan before the highjackers could reverse away. WIP
SO IM WORKING ON AN ACTUAL ORIGINAL FIC FOR EDDIE BASED OFF THE DREAM I HAD LAST NIGHT ABOUT MY IN DREAM VAN BEING STOELN AND MY RELENTLESSNESS OF TRACKING IT DOWN SO IF YOU WANT IT SOON YOU BETTER LIKE THIS LIKE CRAZY AND REPOST TO GIVE ME MOTIVATION. I HAVE THE FIRST CHAPTER WRITTEN ON PAPER, BUT I WILL TRANSFER IT SOON TO TUMBLER. okay THANK YOU!
“How was I in the Upside Down?” I cut off Dustin, and set down the Coors Light bottle. “My name is O’dessa Holden, and I don’t even know how I got there myself.” I rubbed my tender throat and look around meeting the eyes of the group. My hands get jittery, and stress hits me ten fold.
“Okay… O’dessa. Why were you in the Upside Down?” Steve with his hands at his hips looks at me, the Demobat and then back at me. The look he gave told me, he wasn’t buying any possible bullshit. Knowing that the Upside Down is exclusive to the nerdy little nuggets who named that dimension. Why would a complete stranger know that name?
“I don’t know Harrington.” I rub my throat still to sooth my pain, and I look around again. My heart racing, my mind hitting mach ten. Finally standing up I look to the Demobat. Fully registering the fact I am here. Me, a girl from a future that has this world as a very popular television series. Here. What?? Am I dreaming, for real??? How the hell am I here???
“You know who I am? Did you go to school with us? I’d think I’d remember your face.” He crosses his arms and I take a deep breath in.
“I can’t do this right now, I just got hung by a fucking Demobat like a witch in Salem, running all the way across Hawkins in the Upside Down trying to avoid any detection and find a goddamn gate. No, you don’t know me. None of you wouldn’t.” I grab inside my jacket pocket and then pull out my Marlboro Special Select’s. I pull a cigarette out and place it between my lips. “Now if you’ll excuse me I’ll be right back after I gather my thoughts.” Then I walk past them, and exit out the side exit plopping onto the couch on the patio. I light my cigarette, take a long ass drag and soak in the outside air that isn’t going to kill me quicker than the Upside Down.
What. The. Fuck?
This is madness. I kicked it into gear to survive, but now I’m sitting here spacing. This is, like, impossible. And if Henry clocks me, roots into my head he’ll see everything. Who’s to say he hasn’t already? He could have sent that whole swarm to me, but he was…. Toying with me… wasn’t he? Seeing what I can do, seeing what I possibly have in store for how much of a problem I’ll be. Another puff, and I look to the screen door. The group has to think I’m fucking bonkers. I mean, I am, but this? How do I explain this to them? I can and will be blunt about it. I have proof, my ID, my iPad, my iPhone. But, I they I’m even crazier than a whole other dimension. And then telling them their world, who they are is a fictional universe, with them as fictional characters?? BONKERS. Sitting up, I lean forward resting my arms at my knees and thighs. I’m taking another drag, not caring if I’m spotted by Mrs. Mayfield. Or, a cop. I’ll tell them I’m a friend to Wayne that’s here to gather some more personal items while he’s working the plant. Another long drag and the ash falls.
“Got another to spare?” I hear from the side door entrance as I see Eddie peaking as he leans against the inside wall to keep out of view.
“Yeah.” I stand, I walk over toss my cigarette, stomping it and heading back in. I close the door, leaning against the wall as I grab out my cigarettes. “Bad habits die hard.”
“With what’s been happening, I don’t think me dying of lung cancer is worse than being torn apart by whatever the hell is in that portal.” He said accepting the cigarette I hand over. I pull out my lighter, holding it out to light it for him. My heart sinks, knowing the irony of his words. The flash of seeing the bats tear him apart.
“You’re not wrong. I’ll take cancer rather than being torn apart by the Demos any day.” I admit, as he leans into my space. I smell his leather, cigarettes and the after effect of sweat from running for his life these few days. There was also a hint of simple possible dollar store cologne, something sweet but not terribly overwhelming.
“How do you know about them? You don’t know the group right? Did you like, fall in?” He takes a drag and I tilt my head.
“It’s a little more complicated than that I’m afraid Munson.” My hands begin to shake, my heart pounding again. I hate anxiety attacks, all the fucking time. And all of this? This is beyond my limit. His last name sends a jolt through his body. It was a slight tremor that not many would notice. So I ease him down. “Look Ed’s.” I say as I take the cigarette from his hand and take a drag. “I’ll explain everything in a few minutes. Okay?”
“Okay.” He nods, then I don’t hand it back to him for his hands, I hold it to his lips, our eyes dancing back on forth. He takes it now, and then his fingers come up to brush against mine before I let go. My face is flushed but, there wasn’t a chance in hell I’m missing any opportunity here.
Eddie Munson, I’ll do what I can to make sure you live.
I walk away after that, heading to the whispers coming from the living room. As I enter, the chatter silences. Eyes staring bullets into my skull, and I feel myself recline from the attention by making a fumbled side step.
“I owe you all explanations.”
“That’s an understatement.” Dustin says, which earns him a shoulder punch from Max. “Ow!”
“Let her talk.” She says, and I nod a thanks to her. Eddie soon follows now, joining the group and I take another deep breath in.
“I came from a portal.” I begin.
“Like the gate?” Nancy asks, her gaze strong and ever calculating.
“No, a different one.” I go to place my hand at my neck. Then I remember my bag, all my future relics that can help ease this situation. “It’s like I went through a time portal like Marty McFly, except this isn’t exactly my timelines 80s.”
“What do you mean? Like, is one of us like your father or mother or something? Like are you trying-“
“Enough Steve, she’s not trying to bang her father.” Robin cuts him off. And my brain short circuits.
“No! What??” I deeply sigh placing my hand at my hips and tilt my head down with the shake of my head.
“I’m not from this timeline; this timeline is its own. It has no correlation to my timeline aside the fact….” I trial off, then look back at them all. “Expect the fact all of you are in my time, apart of a hit television series called Stranger Things that follows four kids playing DnD in their moms basement and their friend gets kidnapped by a creature from another dimension.”
“I’m sorry, a Television series?” Nancy, is like actually taken aback. Her face, calculating like always seems to shatter for a split second.
“Yes. I told you, it’s crazy. Crazier I’m afraid than Vecna, aka, Henry Creel, aka, One stealing people’s souls to open gates to said crazy dimension. Or creatures kidnapping friends from said dimension, or a girl with super powers showing up in the dead of night and your bother taking her in and hiding her in your basement.” I spew, because that’s what I can do. And they all again go into silence. I huff and then toss my bag down on the ground. “Here, a device called an iPad, I use it to draw.” I take it out. “And my cell phone because holy fuck giant ass clunky pagers in your back pocket? No thank you.” I plop it on the ground. “It’s touch screen. No buttons because the screen reacts to your skin from your fingerpad. This device literally can do so much. But I am not going to continue so I don’t sound like an infomercial.” I stand up, and take my phone back to put it onto my pocket. “I have headphones and my chargers so that’s good. If Vecna wants to take me into a trance I’ll have my music.”
“So you’re saying, you’re from the future? Like really?” Dustin raises both his eyebrows.
“Yes. 2026, or actually is January 5th if I remember.” I look to the side.
“And you’re telling me you’re somehow in our world, a fictional universe and we’re all not real?” Eddie pipes in. His arms crossed as he tilts his head and squints his eyes.
“Yeah, so either I’m having a manic episode in my real world walking around like I’m talking to absolutely no one right now, or I’m somehow some fucking way, actually here!” I raise my hands in exclamation, dropping them hard at my side.
“But, if we’re a television series in your time, that means you know, like everything.” Robin rambles fast.
I nod. “Mhm, mhm. And I don’t know if Henry rooted around in my head yet or if I will notice in time, but, if he does. Absolutely fucking done for.” I press my lips together thinning them in a grimace.
“Shit.” Dustin looks down.
“Yeah. Shit.” I take a deep breath in. “But, I know his fears. And I can use that to my advantage.”
“His fears?” Max tilts her head.
“The reason he is who he’s is. The moment when Henry Creel changed forever all those years ago.” I say. “If I keep his trauma as my wall against his mind and my own, maybe. Just maybe that can shut him out.”
“Trauma? How could a monster like him-“
“The house, the clock, the gates everything. I saw it. He WAS a monster.” Nancy says.
“He showed you only what he wanted you to see. Only what the Mindflayer wanted him to show you, and show him. Which is inaccurate lore by the way for DnD once ‘89 hits. The Mindflayer. The actual main controller creature that puppets the hive-mind, or coven of Mindflayers is called an Elder Brain, which, is what you guys would call the Mindflayer now.” I finish my spew of DnD knowledge and realize half the room is confused and Eddie, Dustin, Lucas and Erica look to each other with a slight look of interest, and a curl to Eddie’s lips catches my attention. But I shake it away. “Uh, but that’s irrelevant right now. Sorry. He is a monster. He won’t stray away from that partnership even at the end.”
“Ooookay.” Eddie looks over to the group, that back hand hip hold he sometimes does. “So, that means we can win right?”
“Damn straight.” I nod.
“Then, how do we do it? Because we were gearing up to take the battle to his home base.” Lucas states as he looks to the group and back to me.
I stand there for a minute, my arms crossing as I think. I have to play this smart, if I mess things up too soon. All of us can die. But, the best bet would to stay course and go with the plan they’d come up with.
“Warzone.” I say. “You guys steady your course.” I look around to them. I’m stuck though, with telling them how this battle will go or not. I’m an anomaly in their time, I’m not supposed to be here. And soon Henry will figure that out and make a death breaking move against me. “Stick with your plan for now, and get ready.”
“Okay then. Warzone it is right?” Steve calls out.
“Let’s kill this son of a bitch.” I nod, my face ever so solemn.
A/N: I’m writing what a lot of us would love to have happen to cope with a lot of things with the Finale. If you guys like it; thank you. I really hope you enjoy this very self indulgent story, sooooo~ Without further ado; my Eddie Munson fanfic!
Chapter One
Escape from the Upside Down.
When you’re hurtling from a weird strange portal and falling to what your impending doom might be, you’d be screaming your fucking head off too. Thats me. Hi. I am O’dessa. I’m currently trying to process the fact I was on a walk to a gas station in my town, and now I’m falling to my death. Or so I thought, as I see a distant upcoming image of what appears to be the end of this wormhole. I thought I’d be crashing and hitting pavement. But, once I break the end I’m tossed into what appears to be a dark forest. Physics lose all sense of logic, and I hover only for a split second above a few inches of forest floor before I’m plopped to the ground face first. A muffled groan escapes before I ease myself up with my hands and knees. My backpack clings to my back, and I’m placing my hand to my forehead to rub away the pain.
Gathering my thoughts, and gathering my surrounding awareness; I’m looking to try and realize where I am. But, the dark air, dark blues and hues of red in the sky send a straight sense of shock and fear. I gasp, falling back onto my ass and crawling back. Why does this place… why does this hellscape look EXACTLY like the Upside Down?? Finishing my thoughts, I’m alarmed once again as I am still backing up. My hand hits something absolutely sensory triggering. Squishy, slick and gooey. Worst of all it pulsed back as it sensed my touch. I look down wide eyed as I pull away in disgust. But I freeze as I see it. A vine. Not just any vine. The vines that alert the entire hive mind of any possible dangers, or in my case. Prey.
Shit.
Looking around frantically as I shoot up to stand, I see before me. The trees, draped in the vines. The ground, littered. The sky, above that terrible color of dread. And then from a distance as if on que to sensing my presence, a screech.
Shit, shit, shit!
I begin to sprint, my red combat boots hitting ground and my forest colored eyes watching for the vines so I don’t trip and alert anymore dangers. If I recall, that was a very specific screech. One of a Demobat. Which if I recall again, was only season four. I could be wrong, they could have been there this entire time, but I know that isn’t the only creature lurking. If I run into a Demogorgon - I’m toast.
I don’t stop, knowing about the lore. Knowing of the Upside Down being confined. Depending on where that screech came from, maybe I can find my way to the trailer park in hope of an open gate. If I think about this right. The bats would be closer to the Creel house. Which I’m running away from then correct? Or, there may be scouts everywhere too. This is hard; I don’t know Hawkins like the back of my hand. The layout is very vague in my mind. But if I want to estimate I should do a one eighty. If I see the Creel House, it would be easier to know the direction to go. If I can remember seeing the map, the Creel House would be on top?? The trailer park, I believe was at the bottom?? Near the Byers?? No?? Who the fuck am I kidding. I don’t fucking know.
I start to slow down, trying to catch my breath. All I see are woods. I go to settle myself against a tree. Careful, very mindful of the vines placement. Looking up to the sky, I don’t seem to see any bats flying over head. Hopefully, maybe I’ve lost them. I breathe deep, pushing away the thoughts of breathing in the tainted air. Will Vecna clock me? Will he see into my mind? If he does, it’s game over. He’s going to send all the Demogorgons my way and there won’t be a shred of evidence of existence aside the possible blood bath staining the ground. My heart rate begins to quicken, I’m panicking. I can’t panic. I won’t. So I steady myself, my breathing and think of one thing that’s been helping through my bullshit of a life at the moment. Ironically, it’s been Eddie Munson. He’s resonated with me on deep levels and I feel a sense of peace seeing those goofy doe eyes pop into my mind. Breathing in, deep, breathing out, deep. Finally I open my eyes yet again.
I stand up, tighten my straps around my shoulders and walk on. What if the group is inside the Upside Down still? This has to be around season four, the bats, they’d be flayed themselves. Dead and surrounding Eddies dead body in a death shroud while Vecna runs tail into Demension X.
Please let it be season four. Please don’t be dead. I hold my straps as I walk the darkness that is this decrepit forest of Hawkins. Minutes, maybe is it an hour? I don’t know but I make a clearing and I see past the lake. Lovers lake right? I walk the dried out barren bottom and head for the middle. Right where…. an open gate is! I run faster and faster and that’s when I see a different massacre. A good one actually. This was the Demobats that attacked Steve. That the group handled. I kneel down and look at one of the dead corpses, the wet dark blood looming still fresh and not dried up. Then I look to the gate, my heart racing and remembering the twenty foot swim I’d have to make with my backpack. I take a deep breath in. My backpack…
I set it down after I take it off, I look inside. My iPad, I draw. My daily essentials and my very nice exclusive Iliad and Odyssey collective edition. I begin to bite my lips weighing out my options. I could leave it here, at least it won’t ruin my items. But, I’d rather my future relics make the climb. So, I toss them back on my back and continue on my way. I put my hands into my pockets now, remembering the way they went next.
Keeping my very best ability to stay stealthy, I wade my way through these death woods and breach another location. A street of houses that I walk down looking around and up for any unwanted observers. Nothing for now, so I continue to walk. And I walk, and I walk. Near a road I see something I’m looking for, a sign that boldly states Forest Hills. I run to it, hoping there’s any sign on which way to go. So, here I am looking around with ABSOLUTELY nothing to find. I deeply sigh with frustration, look past the sign and keep walking. That’s when I stop dead in my tracks. A swarm of Demobats circling above the tree line. But not b-lining to me. My body shakes with fear, involuntary. But I knew what laid beyond those tree lines now. The Creel house. I take a deep breath in and keep walking now, the same damn way I have. That’s when I see the road, and more trees leading into the woods. Crossing, I look down and I can see the front porch. I can see the playground, and I look to the woods once more. The trailer park needs to be past this, so I run. I just run again. Watching my feet, watching the sky’s and hoping for everything that I can still make it unnoticed again. But, something happens that knocks me off my feet of fucking course. The universe spiting me. The terrible shakes the group dealt with their first trip after saving Steve. Falling back, without the stability and I land on that absolute nightmare of squelching slimy vine. I freeze again. My balance returning, my heart pounding and I wait as the earth stops shaking. But my worst fear, the terrible thing that I didn’t WANT to happen does happen. Not one screech, but an ungodly amount of Demobats deafening waves hit the air. I’m cooked. So I panic, I run again and I slam past tree after tree. This is it, I’m going to be Demobat food. I’m going to be no problem to Vecna and everything will happen like it’s supposed to. Including Eddie dying. Max coma tranced…. What do I think I am? A hero? I’m a fucking joke. But, I still run.
My boots hitting ground impossibly faster with the adrenaline. I’m surprised my blood is pumping as fast as I’m running. Finally through another clearing I see the trailer park. I look up and behind and see a swarm. “Fuck!”
So I run, and I run again. Not able to catch breath, not able to look back. I head straight for Eddie’s trailer. Watergate is open so I know damn well so is this one. I scream out in exhausted frustrated fear, my body is going to give, my legs are going to snap but at least for now not like the Chrissy Crumble. Jokes, I’m sorry. I’m coping. From behind me I can tell they gained advantage. Flight kinda does that, and I’m really missing home right about now. A shadow from the lighting struck sky appears before me swooping down after and I dive out of the way as one swoops down at my head. I roll and finally land on my back to see the sky.
In their multi reaping sentenced glory I see the same thing Eddie Munson saw before he sacrificed himself for Dustin and the group. The swarm of death stalkers circling over head. A hiss from the one beside me and I roll to army crawl and jump back to my feet. They’re circling, analyzing. They’re watching my every move and it’s for him. For Henry, to calculate and adjust to my presence. So I keep running using the time I got as the first Demobat does another swoop. I Duck this time, and see the picnic table. I see Eddie’s trailer, Max’s trailer and I keep fucking running. That’s the only thing I can do. My body, weak. My heart about to explode and my head pounding in anguish as I bring myself over the brink of my own survival.
“Fuck!” I exclaim in miserable despair. Another swoops down as I make the porch and I turn back as my hand grabs the front doors handle. It was gunning right at me. Of fucking course, and I hope that I make my dex check as I dodge to the side again. It hits the screen door, and I look to the side entrance. I b-line it again and reach this one, opening it, opening the second door and pushing myself in. Inside I’m here in the trailers hallway. I go to close the door, and as I close it hard the ever perusing Demobat gets squashed. Inside I laugh; outside I’m still petrified as it struggles and its strength nullifies the doors hold itself as it slips right through. I scream, and run to the living room grabbing something quick and throw it down the hallway as it sprints toward me. The next item I pick up, a lamp. It was better than anything and I use it like a bat to take a swing. It jumps right past me and I miss. I turn around and brace for another attack, ready to make a hit. “Come at me you mother fucker!” I taunt. I stand ready, and I wait. It orientates itself again and I see it launch. The lamp makes contact and I look up into the gate. In it, I see faces. Faces I recognize instantly. Faces that stare back in shock, concern and absolute confusion. But that’s enough time.
As the Demobat squeals with my slugger of a hit that make even Steve proud, I grab a chair, back up and make my jump. My hands grab hold of the edges of the gate on their side, my body pulling with the physical weight from the upside down, but I go and pull myself with all my might. And as I feel like I’m about to make headway, literally, something sharp and suffocating takes hold of my neck, I fall into their side. And just like a nose I hang, Demobat digging desperately into the ceiling of the Upside Down to hold me, to pull me back.
I gasp, I grab at its tail. “JESUS CHRIST!” I hear Eddie.
“Steve help her!” I hear Robin.
“Holy shit, holy SHIT!” I hear Dustin. All while my life is draining, and this Demobat continues to choke me out. But I feel it, I feel the slip. The weight of me in this dimension is too much for it in the Upside down. So I hold out my hand, hoping someone will take it to pull. And turn my head as far as it can, then go digging into the flesh of the Demobat with my bare hand. Wet liquid covers my fingers, and its cold blooded tissue encloses them. I feel it loosening, the hold. My vision blurring, my face turning blue. But a warm hand takes mine and pulls. One yank, a second. And then the Demobat and I fall to the trailer floor with a loud thump. For a brief moment air comes back, before the Demobat continues its assault. It gave me just enough time to keep alive and awake, and now I use everything I have to turn around, place my hand on its body and bite at its tail further up. I bite and bite and it screeches and howls. It lets go, and I pull back.
Air returns to my lungs, and my vision is nearly back. I look down at it, look to a large white speaker right next to the TV and I grab at it, tipping it and before the Demobat can get back on its winged legs. I stand and topple it. The speaker falls hard, squishing the Demobat underneath as I stand and see its tail twitch as the dead pest it is finally comes to a nearly satisfactory death. I feel it’s cold blood and flesh between my teeth and I collapse back to the floor catching my breath yet again, spitting and gagging as the group stands around in a stupor. My back is up against the TV stand, I’m closing my eyes and breathing and still gagging as the taste of Demobat haunts my mouth. “Something! FUCK!” I screech in a high pitch, spitting it all out. “Something, anything!” I motion hoping they’d help and maybe there’s something in the fridge. “I’ll fucking take curdled milk at this point, PLEASE!” I’m crying out, my voice hoarse from being strangled and screaming so much. From my peripheral, someone moves and I hear the fridge as I continue to spit up the taste. Finally my hand feels the cold of glass and I look to see a bottled Coors Light. I take it, swish it, spit and repeat a second time before I take a couple of actual deep gulps and rest my head back to catch my breath again.
The group stands, still silent. Still shell-shocked. But I take another deep breath and then look at them. “I bet you’re all wondering how the fuck I ended up here? Huh?”
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