Dustin Henderson, Mike Wheeler, Lucas Sinclair, Max Mayfield, Steve Harrington, Robin Buckley, and Nancy Wheeler mentioned.
1,027 words. An excessive amount of italics but it also was mostly an internal dialogue so 🤷♀️
Eddie sheds the hideous hospital gown, and sighs. This is it. Time to enter the world again. Truth be told, Eddie doesn’t want to return to the world, he’d rather stay in the hospital and never show his face anywhere. Especially not at his trailer. He wasn't sure if the crack was still there. Or hell, if the trailer itself was even there, due to what he was told about Vecna’s plan to tear Hawkins into four chunks thanks to dead kids. Or almost dead, in Max’s case. He winces. Max being in a coma was another reason Eddie didn't want to be discharged. Ever since the doctors said he was healthy enough to move and stuff, he was in Max’s room staring at his neighbor who did everything she could to help him not get blamed for murder, lying prone in a bed with a neck brace, casts on most of her appendages, and a mechanism over her face.
It made Eddie's stomach turn, and his mind whirl in anger. How could someone do such a horrible thing to such a good spirited girl? Sure, she may be sardonic and a bit distant, and Eddie only just started to get to know her, but she was nice in her own way. Lucas had told him all about her, so had Dustin. Eddie wasn't sure if Lucas ever really left her room after all of this. But knowing what he's said about his and Max's relationship, it made sense. It was sad, to be sure, but it made sense. He grits his teeth as he stares into the hospital's bathroom mirror. It was unfair. Why am I the one that gets out unscathed, save a few scars? Why not the young girl who has so much potential and will go far in life? He hits his hand against the sink, his rings causing a clink against the porcelain.
He growls, anger and frustration gnawing at him like a moth eating through old clothing. A knock at the door brings him back from his spiral. “Who is it?” He asks, figuring it was one of the kids or something. “Mr. Munson? I hate to disturb you, but I have to discharge you sometime.” One of the nurses. Eddie realizes, and he groans. Best to not keep her waiting, I guess. He turns around, and swings the door open. The nurse smiles at him, which was rare occurrence nowadays post-Vecna and supposed “Satanic Cult Leader” rumors. He tries for a smile back, rubbing his hand through his curls, and catches a tangle and bites down a grimace as he untangles it.
“You ready to go home, Mr. Munson?” The nurse asks, as she looks over some papers on a clipboard. Eddie swallows. He knows she means well, just trying to make small talk and whatever, but Eddie really just wanted to stay in that bathroom forever and never come out. He again forces a smile, and shrugs. “The food will be better, I suppose.” He jokes, but he knew that if anyone that really spent time with him were here right now, his joking and smile wouldn't reach his eyes. She doesn't seem to pick up on this, as she laughs, and nods. “Yeah, I can understand that. Sign here, please.” She says, passing him the clipboard. He takes it and scribbles out a signature that he had gotten good due to all the NDAs he's had to sign this past week. She takes the board from him, and nods towards the door. “You’re free to leave whenever, Mr. Munson.”
Eddie swallows. The moment I walk out that door is the moment I'll have to accept that I survived. I survived and that fu¢king tentacle man is still out there, and Max can't leave her no matter how much she may want to. He frowns. Can you have that kind of consciousness when in a coma? He wasn't sure, and he wasn't about to ask. That would only make the fact that I survived and she almost didn't worse. The nurse leaves with the paperwork, and Eddie stares daggers into the wooden door in front of him. He was sure there were friends and family downstairs waiting for him to come down, but he didn't want to go. Maybe I can fake up an injury that needs to be treated so I can stay here longer. He ponders, before shaking his head. That would never work. The doctors train for years to be able to see past a guy who probably wouldn't be able to point to my kidneys on an anatomy chart.
He looks over to the window. Maybe I could just run. Go missing. Leave without a trace. Get the hell out of Hawkins and anywhere that people know me. He nods. Wayne will have to understand later. I can't stay here, especially not in that trailer. Eddie marches up to the door to the hallway, before he could change his decision, and runs down the hall. He stops by the elevators, thinking they would probably be looking that way if someone was waiting for him down below. He walks over to the stairs. Being on the fifth floor meant going down five flights of stairs, but it meant no one would expect him to come down that way, so it would be easier for him to disappear that way. He takes a deep breath, and makes his way down, slowly, still using his time alone and in this hospital to his advantage. Wayne, forgive me. But I need to be missing. I can't stay here and put you in jeopardy because some high school kids think I'm Satan's spawn. I'm sorry Dustin, Lucas and Mike, I hope one day you'll understand. And Robin, Nancy and Steve... He pauses his thought, staying at the third floor sign. I'm sorry I didn't get more time to get to know you. But I can't stay... I need to be gone. This is the only way to be sure no harm comes to anyone I care about. Put up a poster or two, but I must remain Eddie The Banished.
