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ISADORA SAT ON THE PORCH, HER ARMS WRAPPED TIGHTLY AROUND HER KNEES AS IF HOLDING HERSELF TOGETHER.

The night was cool, a gentle breeze rustling the trees around the house, but it did little to soothe her restless mind. The others had long since gone to bed, their breathing soft and steady in the quiet house, but sleep had once again eluded her. She had tried, really tried, to rest after the nightmare that shook her awake, but the images were too vivid, too real. Maybe, she thought, some fresh air would do the trick.

"Here you go, love," Billy's voice broke the stillness, soft and warm, as he stepped outside. He moved quietly, not wanting to disturb the peaceful night, and draped a blanket over her shoulders. His presence was instantly comforting, and Isadora's tense muscles relaxed just a bit as she looked up at him and smiled. Billy settled down beside her, handing her one of the mugs he had brought out, its steam curling into the cool night air.

Isadora accepted the mug gratefully, her hands wrapping around the warmth. "Mm, that's delicious, thank you," she murmured after taking a sip, her smile soft but appreciative.

Billy watched her for a moment, concern etching lines into his face. "I saw you weren't in bed and figured you might need this," he said, gesturing to the mug. "Couldn't sleep again?"

Isadora shook her head, the exhaustion evident in her posture. "No, I couldn't," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. She took another sip of the hot cocoa, savouring the sweet comfort of it before letting out a quiet sigh. "We were lucky today. If Beatrix, Nancy, Kendra, and Robin hadn't figured out that music could save Max, we would've lost her. I keep thinking about that. How close we came."

Billy's gaze shifted to the dark horizon, his jaw tightening at the memory of the day's events. "Yeah, we were lucky," he agreed, his voice strained with the weight of what they had faced. After a beat of silence, he turned back to her, his brow furrowed. "How did Ellie know Running Up That Hill would be Max's song?"

Isadora bit her lip, her mind racing. She had promised Ellie she wouldn't tell anyone the real reason, the secret they had both sworn to keep, but Billy's question lingered, and she felt the pressure to say something. She took another long sip of the cocoa, stalling for time as she thought. Finally, she spoke.

"Well, Ellie and Max are really close. They spend a lot of time together, so it makes sense that Ellie would know Max's favourite song," Isadora said carefully, glancing away as if the distant trees might offer her some relief from the tension that had suddenly built between them. "I guess she just knew it would work."

Billy's eyes lingered on her face for a moment longer than usual, as if he suspected there was more to the story. But he let it go, nodding slowly as he turned his gaze back to the night. "I'm just glad it worked," he said quietly.

"Me too," Isadora murmured, her fingers absentmindedly tapping against the ceramic of the mug. After a moment, she reached over and took Billy's hand in hers, squeezing gently. "Max is okay. We saved her."

Billy's grip tightened slightly around her hand. "She's still cursed, Is. Until we figure out how to get rid of Vecna, she's not safe. None of us are." His voice was thick with worry, his expression clouded with concern. "I don't want to lose her."

Isadora looked down at her mug, her heart heavy. She knew all too well what he meant, because the same fear gnawed at her every day. And yet, she hadn't told him everything. Not yet. If he knew she was also cursed... how would he react? The thought made her stomach twist, but she pushed it aside for now.

"You won't lose her," she said firmly, her voice cutting through the doubt that hung between them. "We're going to find a way to stop Vecna and save Max."

Billy nodded, though the tension didn't leave his face. After a pause, his voice softened. "What song would save you from Vecna?"

Isadora blinked, caught off guard by the question. She hadn't given it much thought. What song would save her? She leaned back slightly, holding her mug in both hands as she pondered it. Memories flickered through her mind—moments of joy, sadness, and everything in between. A smile slowly crept onto her lips as one memory stood out above the rest.

"I think the song that would save me is You're the One That I Want from Grease," she said, a playful twinkle in her eyes.

Billy raised an eyebrow, amused. "Why that one?"

"Because," Isadora began, nudging him with her shoulder, "it reminds me of the time you sang it in front of the entire school to apologise to me, even though I was the one in the wrong. That's when I knew I was in love with you. So really, it wouldn't be the song saving me—it'd be you."

Billy let out a soft laugh, shaking his head. "I'll always save you, Isadora," he said, his voice sincere.

"And I'll always save you, William," she replied, using his full name with a teasing grin. She giggled when Billy made a face, clearly not a fan of hearing his full name. She shifted closer to him, her body leaning into his warmth as she glanced up at him again. "Just so we're clear, what song would save you? I mean, you listen to Rock You Like a Hurricane all the time, so I'd assume that's your go-to."

Billy chuckled, raising an eyebrow. "That song? Really?"

"Yeah! You know, 'Here I am, rock you like a hurricane,'" Isadora broke into a brief, off-key rendition of the song, laughing as she did. Billy laughed along with her, shaking his head.

"No, your song would save me," he said after the laughter died down.

"My song?" Isadora asked, her head tilting in curiosity.

"Yeah, the one you sang at school. Had Me at Hello."

Isadora blinked, surprised that he remembered. "You still remember that?"

"Of course I do," Billy said, his voice soft as he looked at her. There was something in his gaze, something that made her heart skip a beat. "I'd just picture you singing it, and I know the sound of your voice would save me."

Isadora's cheeks flushed slightly, her lips curving into a soft smile. "That was kind of cheesy, William," she teased, though her heart warmed at his words.

Billy grinned, unashamed. "Maybe, but it's true."

"Why do you keep letting me call you William?" she asked, her curiosity getting the best of her. "I mean, doesn't everyone call you Billy?"

Billy shrugged, a small smile playing on his lips. "You're the only one I let call me William. Don't tell anyone, but I actually think it's adorable when you do. So you're the only one who gets to call me that."

Isadora's smile widened as she placed her now-empty mug down beside her and scooted even closer to Billy. She rested her head on his shoulder, feeling the steady rise and fall of his breathing. "I love you, Billy."

"I love you too, Issi," Billy whispered, wrapping his arm around her and pulling her close. They sat like that for a while, wrapped in each other's warmth, as the world around them grew quiet. Their friends slept inside, unaware of the silent conversations unfolding on the porch.

Eventually, they both headed back inside, slipping into the makeshift bed on the floor of the Wheeler's basement. Billy fell asleep quickly, his breathing deep and even, but Isadora lay awake, her mind still churning. The nightmares crept back in, flickering behind her closed eyelids, until she finally gave up and stared at the ceiling, wondering how much longer they could keep going before Vecna found another way to break through.

By the time morning crept in, Isadora was both drained and uncomfortable, her body stiff from a restless night. She shifted beneath the blanket, careful not to wake Billy, who had unconsciously curled an arm around her. The warmth of his embrace had offered some comfort through the night, but her thoughts had kept her on edge. Gently, she wriggled out of his grasp, careful not to disturb him as she threw the blanket aside. Sitting up, she rubbed her tired eyes, blinking at the faint light filtering through the basement windows.

She glanced around the room, noticing something odd. Max, Ellie, Beatrix, and Dustin were gone from their beds. A knot of anxiety twisted in her stomach, but she told herself not to panic. They wouldn't have gone far. Still, the urge to check on them overpowered her exhaustion. Standing up, she stretched briefly and headed upstairs, her footsteps soft on the creaky stairs.

When she reached the top of the stairs and entered the kitchen, the familiar voices eased her nerves. Max, Ellie, Nancy, and Beatrix were seated at the kitchen table, talking quietly among themselves, while Dustin was seated at the far end, his mouth full of pancakes. Isadora let out a small breath of relief, her lips curving into a smile as she spotted the stack of pancakes in front of Dustin. Without hesitation, she swiped one off his plate and took a big bite.

"Oh, yum," she said through a mouthful, grinning mischievously.

Dustin's eyes widened in mock outrage. "Isadora! Get your own!" he huffed, his voice muffled by a mouthful of syrupy pancake.

Isadora just rolled her eyes, savouring the bite as she walked over to the table and sat down beside Max and Nancy, who were deeply engrossed in conversation. As she settled in, she heard Nancy asking about the drawing Max had been working on.

"Is this what you saw last night?" Nancy asked, holding up a sheet of paper.

Max nodded, her face pale and serious. "Yeah, it's supposed to be. I thought it'd be easier to draw it out than explain it, but... I'm not sure I did it justice."

Beatrix leaned in closer to examine the sketch. "Is that Chrissy and Fred?" she asked, her voice tinged with concern.

Max nodded again, her voice lowering as she spoke. "It felt like they were on display, like something out of a horror movie."

Nancy turned the drawing so Isadora and Ellie could see. Isadora's stomach churned as her eyes fell on the eerie depiction of Chrissy and Fred, their lifeless figures trapped in some grotesque vision. It was unnerving, and Isadora had to look away for a moment, her hands tightening around the edges of the table.

"There was this red fog everywhere," Max continued, her voice trembling slightly. "It was like a dream. No, more like a nightmare."

Nancy leaned in, her brow furrowed. "Do you think Vecna's just trying to scare you?"

Max hesitated, her fingers tracing the edge of the paper. "Maybe. With Laura, yeah, it felt like that, but when I got here, to this place, I don't know... it felt different. Like he didn't expect me to get that far. Almost like he was surprised, like I wasn't supposed to be there."

Ellie's face darkened with concern. "Wait, Vecna used Laura to scare you?" she asked, her voice tight with worry.

Max nodded, her eyes cast down as if the memory weighed heavily on her. Isadora frowned, her mind racing. She hadn't heard about Laura in a long time, but hearing Max mention her brought back memories Isadora would have rather forgotten. She leaned forward slightly, her voice barely above a whisper.

"You... you saw Laura?" Isadora asked cautiously, her pulse quickening at the thought.

Dustin, always eager to offer his two cents, jumped in before Max could answer. "Do you think it's possible that you somehow infiltrated Vecna's mind? I mean, he invaded your mind, right? What if you ended up in his? Kind of like Freddy Krueger's boiler room."

"Freddy Krueger?" Holly Wheeler asked.

Dustin, clearly unaware of how young Holly was, leaned back with a grin. "Yeah, Freddy Krueger! He's this super-burned-up guy with razors for fingers, and he kills you in your dreams."

Isadora immediately shot him a look, kicking him under the table as Nancy glared at him too. "Dustin! Not in front of Holly!" Nancy scolded, her tone sharp.

Dustin winced, rubbing his leg where Isadora had kicked him. "What? Sorry, it's just a movie! It's not real!"

Isadora shook her head, sighing. "Telling her it's just a movie doesn't make it any less terrifying."

Holly, wide-eyed, quickly retreated from the kitchen, and Isadora could only roll her eyes at Dustin's lack of sensitivity. Nancy sighed, turning her attention back to the drawing. "Anyway," Dustin continued, brushing off the scolding, "think about it. What if Max somehow unlocked a backdoor to Vecna's world? Maybe the answer we're looking for is hidden somewhere in this incredibly vague drawing. We really need Will."

"No kidding," Max muttered. "I've been trying to reach them again this morning, but all I get is a busy signal."

Ellie shrugged, though concern crept into her expression. "It's probably just Joyce using the phone for work. You know she's always on calls."

Isadora remained quiet, her thoughts drifting to their friends in California. She couldn't shake the worry that something was wrong. Her stomach twisted with unease, but she tried to stay focused.

Meanwhile, Nancy had zeroed in on a small detail in Max's drawing. "Is this a window?" she asked, pointing to part of the sketch.

Max looked up, her expression softening slightly. "Yeah."

"Stained glass with roses?" Nancy asked, a flicker of recognition in her voice.

Max nodded, a faint smile playing on her lips. "See? I'm not so bad at drawing after all."

"Well, it helps that I've seen it before."

Nancy remained focused, her mind working quickly. She folded the drawing in half and studied it, deep in thought. Isadora watched her, curiosity bubbling up as Nancy's expression shifted from confusion to realisation.

"What are you doing, Nance?" Isadora asked, leaning forward.

Instead of answering immediately, Nancy continued working, sketching out a new shape on the folded paper. Slowly, the lines came together, forming a distinctive outline—a house. Isadora's breath hitched in her throat as the pieces clicked into place.

"It's pieces of a house," Nancy murmured, her eyes gleaming with understanding.

"Not just any house," she continued, her voice steady. "It's Victor Creel's house."

The weight of her words settled over the group like a heavy fog. Isadora felt a shiver run down her spine as she exchanged looks with the others. Max's nightmare, the drawings, the fog—it all led back to Victor Creel's house. The realisation sent a wave of both fear and determination through the group.

Nancy stood abruptly, her movements sharp with purpose. "Where are you going?" Ellie asked, her voice laced with urgency.

Nancy didn't stop moving. "I'm waking the others. We're going to need everyone for this."

Isadora, Max, Ellie, and Beatrix wasted no time, quickly following Nancy downstairs. Their footsteps were quiet but urgent as they descended into the basement, where the rest of their friends were still fast asleep. The dim light from the small windows barely illuminated the space, casting long shadows on the floor as they approached the makeshift beds.

Isadora knelt beside Billy, her heart pounding as she reached out to gently shake him awake. "Billy," she whispered softly, her hand resting on his shoulder. He stirred, muttering something incoherent before blinking his eyes open, groggy and confused.

"Sorry to wake you," Isadora murmured, her voice apologetic.

Billy yawned, rubbing his eyes as he sat up, his hair messy from sleep. "Is, this better be important," he mumbled, still half-asleep.

Isadora smiled softly, brushing a strand of hair out of his face. "It is. Nancy's got something big. You need to hear it."

Billy nodded sleepily, his trust in her clear as he sat up fully. Isadora shifted to sit beside him on the bed, making room for Max, Beatrix, and Ellie as they gathered around. Slowly, the rest of the group began to stir, groggily waking up as Nancy took her place in front of them, her face set with determination.

As everyone gathered, Nancy wasted no time, explaining everything—the drawings, Max's vision, and the connection to Victor Creel's house. Her voice was steady, but there was an urgency beneath it, an unspoken understanding that this was the lead they had been waiting for. The weight of the situation settled over them like a thick blanket, but there was also a renewed sense of purpose in the air.

By the time Nancy finished, the plan was clear. They had to go to Victor Creel's house. Answers awaited them there—perhaps even a way to stop Vecna. Everyone agreed, though the fear of what lay ahead lingered in the back of their minds.

As they started to gather their things, preparing for the journey ahead, Isadora caught Billy's gaze. His eyes were sharp now, fully awake, and filled with the same determination she felt coursing through her veins. The look they shared was one of unspoken understanding: no matter what, they were in this together.

And they wouldn't stop until they found a way to save Max—and defeat Vecna once and for all.

~*~

"This place gives me the creeps," Beatrix muttered, her voice barely audible as they approached the foreboding silhouette of the Creel House. The house loomed before them like a dark spectre from a forgotten nightmare, its windows gaping like empty, hollow eyes. Vines had grown wild over the walls, creeping up to strangle the boarded-up windows and roof. Isadora wrinkled her nose, her discomfort palpable as she nodded in agreement. The last time she had been anywhere near this house was after the school dance, and as memories of that awful night began to flood her mind, a shiver ran down her spine. The fear she had felt back then, the helplessness—it all came rushing back as though it had happened yesterday.

They ascended the rickety steps toward the front entrance, the wood creaking ominously underfoot. Isadora hadn't actually been inside the house before. Back then, the doors had been locked, and in a way, she had been relieved, but now, standing on the threshold of this haunted place, she wasn't sure if she was ready to face what lay inside. Her stomach twisted with the same feeling of dread she had been carrying for days—a sense that something terrible was on the horizon.

As if sensing her unease, Billy slid his hand into hers. The warmth of his touch instantly calmed her racing thoughts, and she squeezed his hand in return, grateful for the small comfort. She glanced over at him, managing a faint smile, and he gave her a reassuring nod, though she could tell even he wasn't immune to the house's eerie atmosphere.

"Yeah, that's not creepy at all," Steve muttered, his sarcasm a thin veil over his own unease as he cast a wary glance at the Creel House.

Isadora chuckled softly, though the sound was more nervous than amused. Beside her, Beatrix turned to ask, "Is, does anyone else know—"

Isadora shook her head quickly, silencing her before she could finish. There were things Billy didn't need to know right now, things she wasn't ready to share.

"Know what?" Billy asked, looking between the two of them with a frown.

"Nothing," Isadora said quickly, dropping his hand and walking over to where Steve and Kendra were inspecting the front door. Billy watched her go, his expression confused but not pressing for answers.

He turned to his sister, Beatrix, and raised an eyebrow. "What was that about?"

Beatrix just shrugged, playing it off as she joined the group at the door.

"What exactly are we supposed to be looking for in this shithole?" Steve asked, eyeing the decrepit house with a look of disdain as he and Kendra worked on removing the boards from the door.

"We don't know exactly," Nancy admitted, glancing at Max with a nod. "All we know is that this house is connected to Vecna."

"Because Max saw it in his... what, his red soup mind world?" Steve asked, his confusion evident.

"Yeah, that," Max said, her voice flat but carrying a hint of the fear she was trying so hard to suppress.

"Great," Steve sighed, rolling his eyes.

Dustin, standing behind Steve, piped up, "The house could hold a clue—something that explains why Vecna's back, why he killed the Creel family, and maybe even how we can stop him before he comes for Max again."

"We're not just going to stop him," Ellie added, her tone firm. "We're going to destroy him."

Lucas, who had been scanning the area nervously, finally voiced what they were all secretly thinking. "He's not... in there, is he?"

"God, I hope not," Isadora muttered under her breath, casting a glance at the darkened windows of the house.

Max, her face pale and resolute, said quietly, "Guess we're about to find out."

Finally, with one last heave, Steve, Kendra, and Nancy managed to rip the final board from the door. "Ready?" Steve asked, gripping the doorknob. He turned it, but it didn't budge. "It's locked. Should I knock, see if anyone's home?" he joked, though the tension in his voice was clear.

Billy rolled his eyes at the attempt to lighten the mood. "Yeah, I'm sure someone's just hanging out in a boarded-up, haunted house, Harrington," he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

Isadora nudged Billy lightly, a small smile tugging at her lips despite the circumstances. "Not helping, Billy."

"I found a key!" Robin called triumphantly from the side of the house, holding up a brick in her hand with a grin.

Without further delay, the brick was hurled through the window with a sharp crash, shattering the glass. Steve reached through the broken window to unlock the door from the inside. The old wooden door groaned loudly as it creaked open, revealing the dark, musty interior beyond.

With flashlights in hand, they slowly entered the house, the thick, stale air inside suffocating. Dust coated every surface, and the unmistakable smell of decay hung in the air. The floors creaked beneath their feet as they moved cautiously through the entryway.

"Looks like someone forgot to pay their electric bill," Lucas muttered as he flicked on his flashlight, the beam cutting through the thick shadows.

"Where'd everyone get those?" Steve asked, his flashlight still tucked in his backpack.

Isadora and Billy exchanged an exasperated look, and before either of them could say anything, Dustin beat them to it.

"Do you need to be told everything, Steve? You're not a child," Dustin snarked, his tone dripping with condescension.

Kendra sighed and handed Steve a spare flashlight. "Here, I brought an extra. Figured you might need one."

Steve took it with a sheepish smile. "Thanks, Kendra."

As they spread out through the house, their flashlights flickered over the abandoned, decaying furniture, casting long, eerie shadows on the walls. Isadora couldn't shake the feeling that the house was watching them, waiting for the right moment to spring whatever trap Vecna had laid. She shuddered, the cold settling deep into her bones.

Nancy's voice broke the silence. "They just... left everything. Like they never had a chance to take anything."

Robin shone her flashlight over the dust-covered remnants of what had once been a living room. "I guess a triple homicide isn't exactly great for resale value."

Before anyone could respond, Max's voice cut through the tension. "Hey, guys. You see that?"

Isadora turned her flashlight toward where Max was pointing and immediately felt her heart drop. There, standing ominously in the corner of the room, was a grandfather clock—ancient, covered in dust, but unmistakable.

"I see it," Isadora said softly, her voice shaking.

Nancy stepped closer to the clock, her eyes narrowing as she looked at Max. "Is this the same clock you saw in your visions?"

Max nodded, swallowing hard. "Yeah. It's the same."

Robin approached the clock cautiously, brushing some dust off its surface. "I mean... it's just a clock, right? Like an old, creepy clock, but still... just a clock."

Steve, trying to make sense of it, scratched his head. "Why is this wizard so obsessed with clocks? Maybe he was a clockmaker or something?"

Isadora crossed her arms, raising an eyebrow at him. "Really? A clockmaker, Steve? That's your theory?"

Dustin snorted. "Yeah, I'm sure that's the answer."

Isadora shook her head, sighing. "A clockmaker is definitely not the answer."

Nancy, ever the leader, refocused the group. "Look, we know there are answers here. Somewhere, but we need to be careful. Everyone stay in groups of two or three. Robin, you're with me. We'll check upstairs."

Max turned to Lucas and Ellie. "We'll be a group of three. Let's go."

Beatrix tapped Kendra on the shoulder. "Wanna check out the kitchen with me?"

Kendra nodded, and the two of them headed off together. Steve, clearly not wanting to be left alone, started to say something to Isadora, but she cut him off with a quick apology.

"Sorry, Steve. Billy and I are going to check upstairs," Isadora said, already heading toward the stairs with Billy.

Steve sighed dramatically as he watched them go, clearly not happy to be stuck with Dustin. "Was that a sigh?" Dustin asked, his tone teasing.

"No, I didn't sigh."

"You totally sighed."

"I didn't sigh! Let's just go, man," Steve muttered, heading in the opposite direction.

Upstairs, Isadora and Billy entered one of the smaller rooms, the air heavy with dust and the remnants of time. Their flashlights scanned the walls, the beam casting strange shadows across the tattered wallpaper and broken furniture.

"What are we supposed to be looking for?" Billy asked, his voice low as he moved cautiously beside her.

"Honestly? I'm not really sure," Isadora admitted. She felt the same creeping dread she'd had since they arrived, but she couldn't put her finger on why.

As her flashlight swept across the floor, something caught her eye—a small grate in the wall. Curiosity got the best of her, and she knelt down, prying it open. Inside was a jar, covered in dust and grime. She carefully pulled it out and examined it, only to recoil in horror when she saw what was inside: mummified spiders, their tiny, shrivelled bodies stacked on top of one another.

Just as she was about to set the jar down, something cold and quick crawled across her hand—a spider. She screamed, dropping the jar as she jumped back, her heart racing. The jar shattered on the floor, sending shards of glass and the desiccated remains of the spiders scattering across the room.

"Is?" Billy rushed over, his concern quickly turning into amusement when he saw what had happened. His lips twitched, trying to hold back a laugh.

"There was a spider! A black widow!" Isadora exclaimed, backing away from the mess on the floor.

Nancy, who had just walked into the hallway, heard the commotion and quickly hurried over. "Whoa, what happened?"

Isadora was still trembling. "There was a spider... a big one."

Billy, clearly struggling to contain his laughter, finally let out a snort. "Don't laugh, it scared me!" Isadora glared at him, crossing her arms over her chest.

"I'm not—okay, I am," Billy admitted, chuckling softly. "But it's just a spider."

Nancy stepped in, trying to defuse the situation. "Here, hold still, Is. I think you've still got one in your hair." She carefully reached into Isadora's hair and plucked out a small spider, tossing it aside before Isadora could panic again.

"Thanks, Nance," Isadora said, relief flooding her as she cast one last look at Billy, who was still grinning like an idiot.

Ignoring him, she turned back to Nancy. "You know, I think it's awesome that you and Robin are friends now. Maybe once this is all over, we can do something fun together. Like we did that time at the zoo—me, you, Billy, Robin, Steve, Beatrix, Kendra, and Jonathan and Hazel when they're back."

Nancy smiled at the suggestion. "Yeah, I'd like that. It'd be nice to have something normal for a change."

Isadora smiled back. "You're a lifesaver, Nance. Thanks again. Billy and I are going to check downstairs now. I think I've had enough spiders for one day."

Billy chuckled and followed Isadora downstairs. As they descended, Isadora suddenly stopped, her gaze fixed on something unusual.

"Is?" Billy asked, noticing the way she had frozen mid-step. "What is it?"

"Are you seeing this?" Isadora pointed toward a flickering light fixture hanging above them.

Billy squinted at it. "It's just a flickering light."

"Yeah, maybe," Isadora said, her voice uncertain, but something about it didn't feel right. As they reached the bottom of the stairs, they saw that Max, Ellie, and Lucas were also staring up at the same flickering light.

Soon, everyone had gathered in the main hallway, their eyes glued to the chandelier that flickered in and out, casting long, shifting shadows on the walls.

"It's like the Christmas lights," Nancy said quietly, her voice filled with a sudden realisation.

"Christmas lights?" Billy asked, confused.

"Yeah," Nancy explained. "When Will was in the Upside Down, the lights in his house would flicker like this. It was how he communicated with his mom."

"Vecna's here, in this house," Lucas whispered, his voice tight with fear.

"On the other side," Isadora murmured, her eyes fixed on the flickering lights. "He's watching us. Isn't he?"

"I think he just left the room," Robin said, her voice barely above a whisper, as if speaking too loudly might provoke something.

"Can he hear us?" Ellie asked, her voice shaky. "Can he see us?"

"We need to be careful," Billy said, his voice suddenly very serious. "Max, don't take those headphones off, okay?"

Max nodded, her face pale but determined.

Nancy, thinking quickly, gave a new order. "Everyone, turn off your flashlights and spread out. We need to find the source of the flickering."

Steve protested. "Wait, if we turn off the flashlights, we won't be able to—"

But before he could finish, the others had already flicked off their flashlights, plunging the house into near darkness. Only the faint flicker of the chandelier remained as they spread out, each scanning for any sign of movement or answers.

"I got him! Got him!" Robin shouted suddenly, her voice cutting through the silence. The group rushed toward her, but Robin shook her head, frustration evident. "I had him... but he's gone."

"Whoa," Steve breathed, his flashlight suddenly flickering back on without him touching it.

Billy stepped forward, his eyes narrowing. "What the hell is going on?"

"I think he's moving," Steve said, glancing down at the flickering light in his hand. "He's... moving."

The group, sensing something was about to happen, followed Steve as he led them back upstairs. Every creak of the floorboards, every distant noise, felt like an echo of danger. When they reached the top floor, Steve paused, shining his light around.

"Shit. I lost him," Steve said, his voice tight with frustration.

"No, you didn't," Max said suddenly, her voice calm but eerie. She stepped forward, opening a door that led into the attic.

Isadora's heart raced as they entered the attic, the air heavy with dread. A single light pulsed in the centre of the room, casting eerie shadows across the walls.

"What's happening?" Steve asked, his voice filled with nervous tension.

"I don't know," Kendra whispered, glancing at Isadora, who was equally bewildered.

The group stood in a tight circle, their flashlights flickering wildly. And then, without warning, the flashlights exploded in their hands, plunging them into absolute darkness.

In that moment, Isadora's heart sank with the realisation that Vecna had struck again.

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Another chapter for y'all!

Enjoy! Xo

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