Chapter 61

Y’all i have a serious question. do i save eddie or not? It’s all up to guys because i have ALL the power and it COULD make season five interesting. but im torn so it is all in your power rn. let me know!

Lights begin to flicker. Lamps, overhead fixtures, and everything in between.

Maggie glances around, still visibly shaken, Nancy’s hand locked around hers like an anchor.

“The lights,” Nancy says, confused.

“That’s not supposed to happen,” Maggie breathes, “We need to get back to the others.”

Nancy tugs her forward quickly, Maggie half a step behind as they move.

They enter the main room to find Max, Lucas, Dustin, Robin, and Steve already standing in a loose circle, all of them staring up at the flickering chandelier.

“It’s like the Christmas lights,” Nancy says as they join them.

“Christmas lights?” Robin echoes.

“When Will was in the Upside Down,” Maggie explains quietly, “the lights started responding. Everyone thought my mom was losing it. Turns out she wasn’t.”

“Vecna’s here, then,” Lucas says, “In this house. Just on the other side.”

The chandelier goes dark. The room is swallowed by shadows, lit only by the beams of their flashlights. Outside, dusk has fully settled, no light sifting through the windows anymore.

“I think he just left the room,” Robin says.

“Did he hear us?” Max asks.

“Can he see us?” Steve adds.

“Headphones,” Lucas says immediately, looking at Max.

Maggie exhales through her nose. She doesn’t have music, nothing to shield her.

“Wait,” Nancy says, “Everyone turn off your flashlights and spread out.”

“We’re not gonna be able to see anything if we turn them off,” Steve argues, but no one waits for his approval.

Maggie follows Nancy into the adjacent room, eyes scanning the dark for even the faintest flicker.

“I’ve got him!” Robin shouts.

They rush back just as Robin’s flashlight dies.

“Well,” she says flatly, “I had him.”

Steve’s beam begins to stutter, “Oh, whoa. I think he’s moving. He’s moving!”

They trail Steve toward the staircase, following the faltering light upward. Halfway up, the beam cuts out completely.

“Shit,” Steve mutters, “I lost him.”

“No, you didn’t,” Max says, already climbing the rest of the stairs toward a closed door.

She opens it, and they follow her up a second, narrower staircase, flickering light bleeding down from above.

“An attic,” Maggie groans as dust coats her shoes, “Great.”

“Hold up,” Dustin says from the back, “What if he’s leading us into a trap?”

No one slows or even answers.

The attic is amost bare except for a single lightbulb hanging from the rafters. It flickers violently, their flashlights echoing the same pulse.

“Okay,” Lucas says, voice tight, “what’s happening?”

The seven of them form a rough circle, beams angled to the ceiling, like they’re performing an insane seance.

The lightbulb explodes and their flashlights shatter a split second later.

Shrieks erupt as glass rains down around them. Then everything goes silent.

“I think,” Maggie says carefully, “that means we call it a night.”

“Agreed,” Dustin says, nodding into the dark.

They leave the Creel house in hurried footsteps and silence. No one argues or jokes, which is unsettling in itself. Even Maggie doesn’t have anything to say, which is how you know things are bad.

The drive to the Wheeler house is short and too quiet. Headlights cut thin beams through the dark. Maggie is pressed into the back seat beside Nancy, hands folded so tightly in her lap her knuckles ache. Her ears are still ringing, and her head feels like it’s stuffed with cotton.

They pile inside, dropping their shoes and jackets. Robin mutters something about water. Dustin beelines for the couch.

Steve lingers and clears his throat, “I’m gonna, uh. Check the windows.”

“Because that’s worked so well historically,” Robin says, but she lets him go.

Nancy doesn’t say anything. She just takes Maggie’s hand again and leads her up the stairs, down the hall, and into her bedroom. The door closes softly behind them.

For a second, neither of them speaks.

Nancy finally turns, “Okay. Start talking.”

Maggie lets out a weak breath, “That wasn’t just… Vecna doing spooky house stuff.”

“I figured,” Nancy says gently, “You don’t look like someone who just saw flickering lights.”

Maggie sits on the edge of the bed. Her voice comes out quieter than she expects.

“When I touched the clock. Back in the Creel house. He showed me something. A vision”

Nancy sits beside her, close enough that their knees touch. She doesn’t interrupt.

“He showed me someone,” Maggie says carefully, “Her name’s Nat. She was like my aunt. And… other people from before. From my old life. Like my dad.”

Nancy stiffens, just a little, “From before… before Hawkins?”

Maggie nods, “Before everything.”

Nancy waits, she doesn’t push for once.

“They weren’t like themselves,” Maggie continues, “Vecna twisted them. Made them angry. Like they were disappointed in me. Like they blamed me.”

She swallows hard, her throat tight.

“They kept saying I left them. That I survived when I shouldn’t have. That people died because of me. That they died because of me.”

Nancy’s hand tightens around hers.

“You don’t have to tell me everything right now,” she says softly.

“I do,” Maggie replies, “Because it only works if I don’t.”

Nancy turns fully toward her, “Okay.”

Maggie doesn’t look up right away.

“I remember everything,” she says, “All of it. Before Hawkins. Before the portal.”

Nancy stills, but she doesn’t say anything.

“My family was the Avengers,” Maggie continues. “Not metaphorically. Not in a weird fan way. They were my family. Like from the comics. The ones that Mike loves.”

Nancy’s breath catches, sharp and quiet.

“Nat,” Maggie says, “was Natasha Romanoff. She helped raise me. Steve. Bruce. Thor. Clint. All of them. They weren’t just heroes. They were… home.”

She swallows, “Tony Stark was my dad. Iron Man.”

That one finally breaks the silence. Nancy’s eyes widen, disbelief flashing across her face before she reins it in.

“Iron Man,” Nancy repeats softly.

Maggie nods, “Built half the world-saving tech and still made time to walk me to bed. He died protecting everyone. Including me.”

Nancy’s chest feels tight, but she doesn’t pull away.

“I lost them,” Maggie says, “Not all at once. Slowly. In battles, sacrifices, things people write headlines about and then forget.”

Her voice dips, “I survived. And somehow that was worse.”

Nancy squeezes her hand.

“When Vecna showed them to me,” Maggie continues, “he made them hate me. Made it sound like I ruined everything. Like if I’d been smarter or stronger or just… there, they’d still be alive.”

Her jaw trembles, “He knows how guilt works.”

Silence settles between them.

Nancy reaches up and cups Maggie’s face, “Listen to me.”

Maggie meets her eyes, fear laced in her irises.

“He’s lying,” Nancy says firmly, “That thing twists love into blame. That doesn’t make it true.”

Maggie lets out a quiet, cracked laugh, “You’re saying that very confidently for someone dating a girl who fell through a portal from another universe.”

Nancy’s mouth curves, “You’re saying that like it’s a dealbreaker.”

Maggie’s voice breaks, “It should be.”

Nancy leans in, forehead resting against hers, “I don’t care who your family was. Or what world you came from. Or what he showed you.”

She tightens her grip on Maggie’s hand, “You’re here. You chose us. You chose me.”

Maggie closes her eyes, breath hitching.

“And if Vecna thinks guilt is enough to take you down,” Nancy adds quietly, “he doesn’t know who he’s dealing with.”

Downstairs, something crashes. Dustin yells an apology to absolutely no one. The house is seemingly filled with ordinary life, despite everything going on.

The next morning, the group gets no peace. As soon as the sun rises, they’re up and in the car.

Nancy drives with Maggie in the passenger seat and Robin squished between Max and Lucas. Dustin and Steve are in the third row arguing about something meaningless.

Robin pops between Maggie and Nancy, “Not to be a wimp, but can I sit in the car for this visit? Cause this is gonna totally suck.”

Nancy shakes her head, “You’ll be fine.”

“I just can’t stand to see those doe eys of Eddie’s break again,” Robin replies, “I really, really can’t.”

“At least he can drink himself into feeling better,” Steve pipes up, raising the six pack of beer.

“Why don’t we give it a trial,” Robin says sarcastically, “Hey, Eddie. Good news first this time. We got you some Dustin approved junk food and a six pack of beer. Oh, yeah, and we found Vecna. Bad news is that he’s in that other, darker, much scarier dimension. And the gate’s closed so we have no way of getting to him. So, basically you’re screwed! Oh, and just to put a cherry on top, your best friend is being hunted by this demon wizard and might die today, but everything is just peachy!”

Maggie snorts, tightening her grip on the walkman in her lap, “Maybe he’ll be glad to be rid of my nonsense.”

“Oh, shit,” Nancy says.

Maggie casts a confused glance at her before looking ahead. A large crowd of people stands around the yard of Reefer Rick’s house. There are cameras and reporters and police everywhere. There’s no way they’re getting through.

“This way,” Nancy beckons, pulling them all around the news van and sneaking under the police tape.

They listen as Callahan reports another homicide at the lake from last night. A voice sounds from Dustin’s walkie.

“Dustin, can you hear me? Mags?”

They duck away with low voices.

“Eddie, holy shit. Are you okay?” Dustin whispers.

“Nah man… Pretty goddamnn far from okay.”

“Where are you?” Dustin asks.

“Skull Rock. Do you know it?” Eddie asks.

“Uh, yeah. That’s near Cornwallis and—”

“Garret, yeah I know where that is,” Steve interrupts as he leads the way.

They trudge through the woods a great amount, Dustin trying to lead with his compass. So far it’s not going as they expected.

“We’re going the wrong way, Dustbucket,” Maggie sighs.

“It’s north. I’m positive. I checked the map,” the boy defends.

“She’s right,” Steve says, “We’re going the wrong way…Wait, how the hell do you know where Skull Rock is? It’s like a super popular makeout spot.”

Maggie smiles slyly, “Sometimes a girl just wants to have fun.”

Steve stutters a little.

“Listen, Dustin. You’re compass isn’t working we’re changing direction,” Maggie says.

Steve follows suit, having no arguments as he knows it too.

“Where are you going?” Dustin shouts.

“Stop whining,” Steve shouts, “Let’s go, trust us.”

Steve and Maggie lead the way through the woods. Shortly after the change in direction, they trapse through some shrubbery, eyes falling on the spot.

“Badaboom, Henderson. Skull Rock,” Steve announces.

“Doesn’t make sense,” Dustin mutters.

“I’m telling you, your stupid little compass is broken,” Maggie says.

A thump and crinkling leaves comes from behind her, “A compass cannot be broken young padawan.”

Maggie spins around with a smile, “Eddie!”

She tackles him into a hug.

“Hey, Mags,” he smiles.

“We thought you were a goner,” Dustin smiles, joining the hug.

“Me too,” Eddie says, pulling back.

“What the hell happened?” Maggie asks.

Eddie sighs, sitting down on a rock. He drags a hand down his face, the grin gone, replaced by exhaustion.

“Jason,” he starts, “Jason and his comrade caught up to me.”

Dustin’s smile fades immediately, “Like… caught up how?”

“Pitchforks,” Eddie says flatly, “Metaphorical. Though give them time.”

Maggie’s shoulders tense.

She crouches in front of him, eye level, “They attacked you?”

“Yeah,” Eddie nods, “Blamed me for Chrissy. For Fred. For everything they don’t understand and are too scared to question.”

His jaw tightens, “They cornered me near the lake. Started yelling about Hellfire and Satan and whatever else they picked up from daytime TV.”

“Jason was there,” Maggie says.

“Front and center,” Eddie confirms, “Real righteous about it too. Like he wasn’t two seconds away from beating me half to death in the name of God.”

Dustin swallows, “But you got away.”

“Barely,” Eddie says, “Jason and Patrick were so close and then…”

Maggie’s chest tightens, “Patrick?”

Eddie nods, eyes dropping to the dirt, “Vecna got him.”

Silence crashes down hard.

“I saw it,” Eddie continues, “Right in front of me. He just… lifted. Like something grabbed him from the inside.”

Dustin’s breathing goes shallow.

Eddie says quietly, “Bones snapping. Eyes bleeding. And there was nothing I could do.”

Maggie’s fists clench. She forces herself to stay still.

“Jason thought it was me,” Eddie says, a bitter laugh breaking through, “Like I’d just done a magic trick for the crowd.”

“So he chased you,” Dustin says.

“Like a man possessed,” Eddie replies, “I ran. Didn’t stop running until my lungs were on fire and I thought my heart was gonna explode.”

He finally looks up at Maggie, “I didn’t leave because I wanted to. I just…ran.”

Maggie reaches out, gripping his sleeve, “You did the right thing.”

Eddie shrugs, but his eyes are glassy, “Doesn’t feel like it.”

Nancy cuts in, “Do you know what time the attack happened? Exactly.”

“Yeah,” Eddie says, pulling off his watch, “My walkie wasn’t the only thing that got soaked.”

He tosses it to Nancy.

“9:27,” she reads.

“Same time our flashlights exploded,” Maggie says, nodding.

Steve frowns, “Which means… what, exactly?”

“The energy surge,” Nancy says immediately, “It was Vecna attacking Patrick.”

Robin exhales, “Okay. So we’re one step closer. We know how he attacks.”

“And where he attacks from,” Lucas adds.

Max crosses her arms, “So we sneak into his lair in the Upside Down and drive a stake through his heart.”

Maggie snorts, “If that bitch even has a heart.”

“Stake?” Steve asks alarmed, “Like… is he a vamp? Is he a vampire?”

Maggie rolls her eyes, “No, idiot.”

“A bullet should work, right?” Eddie offers.

“I say we chop his head off,” Lucas adds.

“All of the above,” Nancy says, pinching the bridge of her nose, “But none of them matter until we find a way into the Upside Down.”

“We need El to get her powers back,” Max says.

“Yeah, well, I wish I could help,” Maggie says, shaking her head, “But Vecna already knows what I can do. And I don’t think it’d make a difference.”

“Wait,” Eddie says, stopping short, “What do you mean, what you can do?”

Maggie waves it off, “Not important right now.”

Before Eddie can press on, Dustin shouts.

“BOOM! Bada…bada…boom.”

“I was right,” the boy grins, “Skull Rock is north.”

“Seriously? You’re serious?” Steve shouts back.

Dustin nods with a grin.

“This is Skull Rock! You’re totally absolutely 100% wrong,” Steve says.

Dustin leans forward, gesturing vaguely, “Yes. And. No. This worked correctly when we left the Wheelers’.”

He holds up his compass, “Correct when we got in the car on Kerley. But it started to slip the further east we went. Now, it’s way off. When I was leading us here, I wasn’t wrong. The compass was.”

Maggie groans, slapping a hand to her forehead, “What do you mean the compass is wrong?”

Dustin sighs, “Lucas, remember what can affect a compass?”

“An electromagnetic field,” Lucas answers, a lightbulb going off in his head.

“Sorry I must’ve skipped that class?” Robin says.

Dustin explains, “In the presence of an electromagnetic field, the needle will deflect towards that power. So either there’s some super big magnet around here, or…”

“There’s a gate,” Lucas finishes.

“But we’re nowhere near the lab,” Nancy reasons.

Maggie shrugs, “Well, maybe there’s another gate. One we don’t know about, something small.”

Dustin snaps and points at her, “Something is causing a disturbance, and the last time we’ve seen anything like this, it was a gate. And I hope it is, because then we’d have a way to Vecna. And a shot at freeing Max and Maggie from this curse.”

Eddie interrupts, waving his hands, “Wait, Maggie?”

Everyone goes quiet.

Maggie freezes for half a second. Just long enough to be noticeable. She exhales and turns toward him.

“Yeah,” she says, “That’s… that’s my cue.”

Eddie frowns, “My cue for what.”

Nancy looks at Maggie, checking in. Maggie gives a small nod. No backing out now.

“I’ve been hunted by Vecna, too,” Maggie says.

Eddie shakes his head, trying to take it in, “Okay. Nope. Don’t like that sentence. Gonna need you to rewind.”

“He’s been after me just like Max,” Maggie continues, “I just didn’t tell you.”

Eddie’s laugh comes out sharp, “Haha. Cool. Great. I love secrets. Especially murder ones.”

“Maggie,” Dustin says softly.

She keeps her eyes on Eddie. “I’m on a deadline.”

Eddie’s grin fades completely, “A what?”

“I’m supposed to die today.”

“What do you mean today?” Eddie asks.

His voice cracks on the last word, “Like metaphorically? Or like, actually today today?”

“Actually,” Maggie says, “Like clock’s-ticking,”

Eddie stares at her, processing it, and shakes his head.

“No. No, that’s not— you don’t just drop that.”

“I didn’t want you scared,” she says quietly, “You’ve already been through so much.”

“That ship has sailed, crashed, and burned,” Eddie snaps, and immediately softens, “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Because if I told you,” Maggie says, “you’d want to fix it. Or throw yourself in front of something. Or do something stupid and heroic.”

Eddie opens his mouth.

“Exactly,” she says.

Silence settles again.

“And there’s more,” Maggie adds.

Eddie rubs his face, “Of course there is.”

“My powers,” she says.

Eddie looks up sharply, “Your what now?”

She hesitates, but forces herself through it, “I can take pain. Emotional or physical. From other people.”

Eddie’s stomach drops.

“I can pull injuries out of someone,” she explains, “Wounds, broken bones, trauma, and put them into myself.”

“And you’re telling me this like it’s normal?” Eddie says faintly.

“I can also do the opposite,” Maggie continues, “Move injuries from myself into other people. Or into creatures.”

Eddie looks like he might actually throw up.

“You mean,” Eddie says slowly, “you’ve been hurting yourself for everyone else.”

Maggie shrugs, “Sometimes.”

“Sometimes,” he repeats, voice rising, “That is not a comforting word.”

“He uses it,” Maggie says, “Vecna. He targets guilt. So he goes after people like me. People who think they deserve it.”

Eddie steps forward without thinking, hands shaking, “You’re my best friend.”

Maggie finally looks at him, eyes shining, “I know.”

“You don’t get to just… die,” Eddie says, “Not today. Not ever. That’s not how this works.”

“Eddie—”

“No,” he cuts in, “Absolutely not. I have already watched one guy float into the air and get folded like a lawn chair this week. I am not adding you to that list.”

Max speaks up quietly, “That’s why we’re doing this. All of us know. We’re trying to stop it.”

Eddie looks around the group, realization dawning, “You all knew.”

Nancy nods, “We’ve been protecting her.”

Eddie laughs again, brokenly, “Cool. I love being last.”

He turns back to Maggie, eyes fierce. “You’re not alone in this. Not anymore. Not if I get any say.”

Maggie’s voice wobbles, “You’re allowed to be scared.”

“I am scared,” Eddie says immediately. “I’m terrified. But that just means I’m staying closer.”

He reaches out and grips her sleeve, “Vecna wants you isolated and scared. He doesn’t get that.”

Maggie swallows hard.

“Because,” Eddie continues, “he picked a fight with a very stubborn metalhead and his extremely traumatized friends.”

Dustin sniffs, “We really should put that on a t-shirt.”

Maggie lets out a breathy laugh with tears stinging her eyes.

For the first time since she said the words out loud and it doesn’t feel inevitable, “I’m supposed to die today.

Eddie squeezes her arm, “Not on my watch.”