Stuck in the Middle With You
Pt.3 here, Pt.2 here, Pt.1 here
pairing: Henry Creel/Mr. Whatsit/Vecna/001/Peter Ballard x reader
cw: more corny flashbacks, mentions of death
A/N: i’ll admit, this is not going to be the best part. I really hate having to take from actual scenes in the show for the sake of plot and it leaves me feeling uninspired, but henry is still in this chapter, trust
The birds sang as you sat on a rock next to the stream with Holly and the girl, carefully cleaning the large scrape on Holly’s knee. Sunlight filtered through the trees creating a dreamy glow over the three of you, making the girl’s messy hair look as though it were on fire.
“I didn’t mean to scare you guys, I haven’t seen anyone in… a really long time, so..” The redhead glanced up, looking back and forth between you and Holly. “I guess I got excited.. The good news is, that doesn’t look that deep, not enough for stitches at least.”
“It probably stings though.” You murmured as you pulled the rag away from the angry red wound. There was a bit of silence, and you and Holly were definitely still a little on edge about trusting the girl. The redhead sighed a little and tilted herself to face Holly, trying to put her at ease.
“You can talk to me, you know. I won’t bite.” Holly still looked extremely nervous, so you put a comforting hand on her back. If this girl was dangerous, you wouldn’t let a thing happen to Holly. “You do remember me, right? I’ve been to your house, like, a lot.”
“You’re Max, Max Mayfield.” Holly started after a moment of thought. “You skateboard and never take off your Walkman.”
“How am I here instead of in a coma in Hawkin’s General?” Holly raised her eyebrows at Max’s rhetorical question, showing she wanted to ask the same thing. Max nodded with an uncomfortable smile. “That’s a very reasonable question.”
The crack of a branch further in the woods caught the attention of all three of you. Your heart raced and Max quickly stood with you, helping Holly up. “It’s not safe here, come on.”
The three of you walked quickly through the woods, back down the path you had originally taken to get to the caves. You held Holly’s hand tightly, keeping her close to you as you spoke up. “Where exactly are we going?”
“My home.” Max responded.
Holly spoke up this time, anxiety lacing her voice. “We can’t go far, we came here to meet Henry. Do you know Henry?”
“Yeah, you could say that.” Max scoffed.
“He left us this note-“ Holly turned to you and reached in your pocket, causing you to stumble, before showing it to Max. “See? And he told me to meet him right here at the X, right here! I think he’s in trouble with the monsters.”
“Henry is a lot of things, but in trouble with the monsters is not one of them.” Max’s eyebrows knit together in annoyance as the three of you marched forward.
“No but look! The note says-“
“Holly, I know what the note says,”
“Then how do you know he’s not in trouble,” You and Max both said her name, trying to calm her down and shut her up for a second.
“He didn’t write it, Holly!” You tried reasoning, but she was too panicked.
Max stopped abruptly, turning to grab Holly’s shoulders. “Holly, I know what the note says because Henry didn’t write it. I did.”
Holly stared at Max, her thoughts spiraling. “I-I don’t understand.”
“It was you?” You asked incredulously, shocked but almost relieved.
Max apologized, expressing how she didn’t want to lie but she needed to make sure Holly came.
“You’re one of them, aren’t you?” Holly’s voice welled up with tears, fearing that you two had just been lured by one of those awful monsters.
“One of what?” Max looked confused.
“Do I look like a monster?” Max’s eyes widened and her head dropped, wondering if this girl was serious. Holly and Max argued for a second, each trying to explain how Max was or wasn’t a monster.
“Wait, wait-“ You interrupted, knowing better than Holly that Max was just a girl. “I’ve been here two years. Why did you wait for Holly to show up?”
“Because I know her!” Max looked even more frustrated now, looking over at you like this was the most obvious thing in the world. “I have no idea who you are and quite frankly, I was hoping Holly here would show up alone!”
“You want a little girl trapsing through the woods alone to you? You think I was going to let that happen?” You scoffed at her, arm motioning over to Holly as though she wasn’t there.
“The only dangerous thing in these woods sleeps next to you in bed!”
“You think I don’t know that?” You argued back and forth with Max until your response caught her off guard.
“Why do you think I came here with her?”
“Oh.” Max’s tone shifted entirely, before she turned and walked into the cave, followed by you and Holly after a moment of hesitation.
The cave was actually quite lovely, filled with various items you did and didn’t recognize. But, as Holly was looking over the crates of books, the blankets, trinkets, you were drawn to the mouth of the cave, stepping up over some rocks so you could see the view. Max ushered Holly over and the three of you stood staring at the breathtaking landscape that most certainly wasn’t Indiana.
“Where are we?” You whispered, staring out at the vast desert.
“In a memory, which exists in a world of a thousand memories.” Max started, and your gaze fell back on the desert, your heart pounding, sure you could predict what she was about to say next. “I know it might look nice, but it’s not. This place, this world; it’s a prison! Henry’s prison.”
You stepped back from the ledge, breathing heavily. Your eyes were wide as you scanned your surroundings, trying not to hyperventilate.
Your memory was fuzzy when you woke up, as though you had been out drinking the night before. You sat up, the sun all too bright as you grabbed your head and looked around. Some sort of field or clearing. The grass made you itch, so you stood quickly to wipe it off of you, trying to ignore the searing headache.
“It’s good to see you’re finally awake.” You looked up from cleaning yourself immediately. It was him.
“Henry?” You questioned, desperately trying to remember what happened. “I-I don’t understand, what happened, why am I out here?”
“I’ll explain everything very soon, but we should get you inside. You hit your head pretty hard.” Henry cocked his head to encourage you to follow him, before turning and walking off. Your eyebrows furrowed together and you quickly caught up with him.
“Can you please tell me what’s going on?” You looked over at him, and he had a cheeky, knowing smile. “What do you mean hit my head?”
“I’d like to be able to sit down with you to discuss it, and I’m sure you would appreciate some water and some ice for your head.” You stopped abruptly, letting him continue to walk.
“Why should I go anywhere with you? I barely know you!” Henry stopped and turned around to face you as you spoke. “Why should I trust you? For all I know you kidnapped me! I have no idea where I am and there is absolutely no reason I would be here otherwise.”
“Kidnapped?” Henry looked almost hurt as he began to approach you. “No, no, no… I saved you.”
His hand gently reached out for yours, taking it as though he were afraid to break it. You shook your head, looking down at his hand. “I don’t understand, I- saved me?”
Henry smiled and nodded, bringing his other hand up to cup your cheek, guiding you to look directly at him. His eyes were searching yours. “Yes, and if you’d like to remain safe, I ask that you come with me.”
You grabbed his hand from your face, taking it off. It wasn’t a cruel gesture, just frightened. Henry exhaled and turned around again, knowing this time you would follow.
His house was huge, like some mansion made for a fairytale heroine. You looked around with wide eyes, taking in your surroundings as he led you inside. If the outside was strange, the inside was downright dreamlike. The moment you stepped through the door, it was like stepping out of a time machine.
The house was a perfect time capsule of the late fifties, picturesque, clean, and well loved. Henry led you to the parlor, motioning for you to sit down on the plush sofa. Henry stepped out of the room without saying a word, leaving you anxiously tapping your foot as you sat on the couch.
After maybe two minutes, you could hear a kettle screaming, followed by silence. When Henry reappeared, he was holding a tray with most of a tea set on top. He set it down on the wooden coffee table, before preparing each of you a cup. Somehow, he made it just to your preference, with just the right amount of sugar. He handed you the cup and brought it to your mouth hesitantly, before taking a sip, he had prepared it in front of you after all.
“I know you must be scared right now, confused.” He started, taking a sip of his own tea before setting it down. “With time you will regain your memory, but right now it is important to rest.”
“Tell me what happened, please.” You took another sip of your tea and leaned forward, your eyes pleading with him. His shoulder lifted and fell as he considered his next words.
“Do you remember when that boy went missing in Hawkins and came back a week later?” You nodded, trying to decipher what he was going to say. “There was a monster in the woods the night he disappeared. A monster from another world, and there are many more like it, many that have begun terrorizing Hawkins. One of those monsters took him.”
“You’re joking.” You scoffed.
“I’m not.” Henry countered seriously. “Those same monsters caused the mall fire that took your sister. And they’ve terrorized multiple families, including yours.”
“I don’t understand.” Your voice was quieter now, unsure.
“Last night, one managed to get into your home. It dragged you off to do God knows what. I was able to stop it.”
“In my house?” Your heart pounded against your chest so hard you were sure he could hear it. “What- what about my mom? Is she okay? Is she safe?”
Henry sighed and looked down at his clasped hands, before back up at you. “I don’t know what happened to her. I got there in time to save you, but she was very injured, I only had time to save you.”
“How could you just leave her there?” You stood abruptly, tears pricking at your eyes as you tried to calm yourself down enough to think straight. You had to go back. You had to help her! “Thank you really for taking me in but I have to go back, I-I have to help her!”
You quickly left the parlor and stepped out the front door, your shoes clicking on the wooden steps. Henry was close behind you, calling out your name.
“You can’t go back, that monster is hunting you as we speak and you will die!” Henry’s voice was a mix of calm but urgent, not wanting to sound threatening, but needing you to come back into the house.
“I don’t care! She’s probably scared and alone and I’ll never be able to live with myself if I leave her there.” You answered, but not turning your back, you looked at the road and realized that it was familiar. This was Moorehead Street, just outside of Hawkins! You paused for a second to recall which direction led home, then took off, running down the road.
You, of course, had no clue that you wouldn’t be able to make it to Hawkins, nor did you remember your mother dying in front of your very eyes. Henry was still behind you on the road, but his brisk walk turned into a run. He caught up with you quickly, his hand landing on your shoulder, bringing you to an abrupt stop and pulling you into his chest.
“She’s gone,” Henry huffed out, catching his breath. You could feel his chest heaving on your back as you struggled to release yourself from his grip. “She wouldn’t have survived her injuries.”
“No, you’re lying!” You peeled his arm off you and darted forward, realizing that the landscape around you became less recognizable as you went on. You slowed down, realizing that you were totally helplessly lost. Overwhelmed by all of the horrifying information and lack of familiarity to your surroundings, you crouched down, your fast breaths turning into small sobs.
Henry didn’t need to run to catch up with you this time. When he found you sitting on the cement, arms wrapped around your legs, shoulders heaving with your sobs, it was only natural for him to wrap his arms around you. This time, instead of pushing him away, you leaned into his arms as he crouched next to you. One of his hands rubbed comforting circles on your back. He smelled clean, like a light cologne with a hint of aftershave.
“Why did you lie? Why did you say you didn’t know?” Your sobs shook your body as you unwrapped your arms from your legs, allowing them to find their way around him.
“I didn’t want to lie, but I didn’t think you were strong enough to handle the truth, you’ve been through so much that I didn’t think you could handle it.” Henry brought one hand up to cup the back of your head, letting you sob into him, before he spoke again. “Let's get you back, it’s not safe out here for you.”
Max spoke about this curse he put on various people in town. How he would corrupt their minds, show them horrible things before killing them in the most gruesome manner you thought possible. “The first person he took was Chrissy Cunningham.”
“No..” Your voice caught in your throat as she spoke her name. Your best friend. Chrissy had been friends with you since the third grade, she was a year younger than you, but she was always there for you, always present, always kind. You covered your mouth as you stifled a sob. Max and Holly both looked at you, eyes softening as they realized you knew her. “She can’t be gone.”
“She is, along with Fred Benson, Patrick Mckinney, and technically me..” Max looked down at her hands as she continued to speak. “It’s how he opened the gate into Hawkins.”
You nodded and cleared your throat, wiping the tears and snot from your face as you nodded at her to continue.
Max’s voice was hard and cold as she explained how she came to be here, going over how she had explored the lengths of this world and each memory of Henry’s. Her voice shook as she recalled the traumatic events involving her, witnessing herself tormented by him in the third person. Your eyes welled with tears as you listened, your heart aching with sympathy and understanding for her. When Max went silent, recalling her traumas, Holly stood and sat next to her, but you stayed in your spot across the cave, still listening.
You rested your chin on your hands, listening intently as she described the night she was taken, how she was so close to getting home, how Henry found her and she ran again. You remembered running. So many times, and how he found you each time. You wiped your eyes quickly and kept listening intently.
“I’ll never forget the look on his face that day. He was scared, more than scared. He was terrified.” She looked up at you and then around the cave. “There’s something about this cave, this memory… He won’t come in. In here I’m safe, so I turned it into my sanctuary, my home.”
“You took door two.” You spoke quietly, and she nodded at you with an absent look.
“Shitty door two.” She looked to the ground and then back at Holly. “That was until you showed up, and now door three is back.”
Holly stood quickly, approaching her. “Escape.”
“I have a plan.” Max said, turning to look back at you with a knowing nod. “I have a plan. A plan to get us out of here. And it’s gonna take time, more time than we have now.”
You stood from your spot and joined them, standing next to Holly, waiting for what she had to say next.
“Henry will return to his house soon, and when he does, he cannot know that you two are gone.” Holly’s eyes widened and she gripped your hand.
“You-You want us to go back there? Back to him back to Henry?” Holly looked up at you, clearly very terrified. “No, we-“
“I know, it’s scary. But if you want to get out of here, if you want to escape Camazotz, this is the only way.” Max grabbed Holly’s shoulder, trying to express the importance of this. You brought a hand up to her back as well, trying to comfort her. “It’s the only way.”
Holly’s face hardened as she looked down and shook her head, swallowing her fear. “Tell me what we have to do.”
Max stayed back as you and Holly traversed back to Henry’s home, and by the way Holly was gripping your hand when you approached the edge of the woods, you could tell she was terrified. You looked down at her and stopped walking, crouching down to her level and making her face you.
“Talk to me, tell me what you’re thinking right now.” You spoke gently, with as much compassion as you could muster up. Holly’s mouth was slightly parted as she hyperventilated in front of you, before a tear slipped from her eye. “Get it out now before we have to face him again.”
“I’m scared. I’m so so scared!” She fell into your arms, and you quickly wrapped yours around her in a tight hug. She sobbed into your shoulder as she expressed her fear. “What if he catches us? What if he does those awful things to us?”
“Shhh..” You rubbed her back as her shoulders shook with sobs. “None of that is going to happen. We’re going to get you out of here, and you’re going to make it home to your family.”
“What about you?” She pulled away slightly, looking at you as she wiped the snot from her nose.
“I’m going to be just fine, Holly.” You gave her a comforting smile and stood, taking her hand again. “We are both going to be just fine.”
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