Miles away from the town, there was a crystalline castle. There were roses growing around the baseline, accompanied by crystals.

In the throne room, Nineteen sat in the crystal throne, staring at the window. There were two crystallized dragons laying down on either side of the throne room.

Nineteen hummed softly and the dragon lifted it's head.

She looked at her companion. "It seems that Max is awake. This will take a little bit of time and effort," she said and she shifted her gaze to One who was laying on the floor nearby.

He looked pale and there were black and red cracks growing on his skin. There was a crystal ball and chain on his ankle and there was a crystal bracelet on his wrist.

"No thanks to you," Nineteen said, getting up and she walked over to him. He weakly glared at her, "you... you traitor!"

"Oh. I am a traitor?" Nineteen said before she smacked him hard across the face, "you killed our brothers and sisters for your own selfish needs. You almost killed an innocent child. But... no matter," she said, "I will handle this. And I will do things my way. I have already planned things for my reign."

"Eleven... will stop you," One hissed. Nineteen chuckled softly, "oh I know. And that is something I am counting on. She is strong but I am stronger."

He glared up at her but she didn't flinch. She walked out of the room.

Eddie groaned as he slowly woke up and he found himself staring at a crystalline ceiling.

"What...," he groaned, rubbing his eyes. Moving his hands away from his face, he slowly looked around and found himself in some kind of bedroom.

He widened his eyes and jumped out of bed. "Steven! Guys!?" He yelled and groaned as he sat back down, "crap... shouldn't have done that so fast."

He held his head. There was a light knocking sound and he looked to see a woman walking into the room. "Hello, Eddie Munson," she chuckled, "glad to see you're awake."

He stared at her, "u-um... who are you?"

"I'm Nineteen," she said, "and for now, you're under my protection. So... try to make yourself at home."

"Home? Wait, where am I? What happened?" Eddie asked, waving his hands. Nineteen looked at him curiously.

"I rescued you from my idiot brother's realm," she said, crossing her arms, "you were unconscious for two weeks."

Eddie blinked a few times and he stared at her as his mind caught up with his hearing.

"T-two weeks? Br-brother?" He squeaked, his eyes wide in shock.

Nineteen laughed a little, "yes, you were asleep for two weeks. My brother- well, I'm pretty sure you and your friends called him Vecna."

Eddie narrowed his eyes and he got up with a growl. "He killed Chrissy! He killed innocent people!"

Nineteen narrowed her eyes but it wasn't aimed at him. "He did," she said, "but I took care of it. For now, I believe you and I are due for a conversation."

He frowned at her. "How can I trust you?"

"You can't," she said, turning away, "but it's ultimately your choice to leave or stay. I won't keep you here. But as I said, you are under my protection. Considering that the entire town of Hawkins had a manhunt for your head."

Eddie pursed his lips and he looked down bitterly. Nineteen glanced at him out of the corner of her eye and she hummed quietly.

"When you are ready, meet me in the throne room," she said before she walked out of the room and closed the door, leaving Eddie alone with his thoughts.

As Eddie sat there, he couldn't help but feel overwhelmed by everything that had happened. His mind raced with questions and doubts, unsure of what to believe or who to trust. But he knew that he couldn't stay in this room forever. He needed answers.

Taking a deep breath, Eddie resolved to at least hear Nineteen out. He stood up, his legs feeling a bit wobbly from the long period of unconsciousness, and made his way towards the throne room.

As he entered, Eddie couldn't help but be in awe of the grandeur of the crystalline castle. The roses and crystals that surrounded him were unlike anything he had ever seen before. However, his focus quickly shifted to Nineteen, who was sitting in the crystal throne once again.

"Ah, Eddie, I'm glad you made it," Nineteen said, her voice echoing in the spacious room. "Please, have a seat."

Eddie hesitated for a moment before taking a tentative step forward and finding a spot on a nearby crystal bench. He took a deep breath, gathering his thoughts before speaking.

"You mentioned that you took care of Vecna," Eddie began, his voice filled with a mixture of anger and pain. "How can I believe that? How do I know you're not just like him?"

Nineteen sighed softly, a hint of sadness in her eyes. "I understand your skepticism, Eddie, but trust me when I say that I am nothing like my brother. Yes, we may share some similarities, but I have chosen a different path."

Eddie's expression softened slightly, curiosity replacing some of his anger. "Why? Why are you helping me? What do you want from me?"

Nineteen looked at him earnestly, her gaze steady. "I want to make things right. I want to protect this realm, including you and your friends. It's true that I may have my own plans for my reign, but I assure you they are not selfish or malevolent. I want to create a better world, free from the darkness that my brother brought upon us."

Eddie listened intently, trying to decipher whether Nineteen's words held any truth. He struggled to find a reason to trust her, but there was something in her voice and her demeanor that made him want to believe.

"Look, Eddie, I can understand your doubts," Nineteen continued, her voice gentle. "But I need your help too. Together, we can fight against the darkness and ensure that innocent lives are protected. Your unique abilities, your strength, they can be a powerful asset in this battle."

Eddie took a moment to consider her words. There was a part of him that wanted to refuse, to walk away and avoid getting entangled in all of this. But the desire to make things right, to avenge his friends and the people of Hawkins, burned within him.

"I have one condition," Eddie finally said, his voice unwavering. "Prove to me that you can keep your word. Show me that you truly want to protect innocent lives. Only then will I consider helping you."

Nineteen nodded, a glimmer of determination in her eyes. "I accept your condition, Eddie. I will do everything in my power to earn your trust. Together, we will bring justice and protect those who are at risk."

As they exchanged a determined glance, Eddie couldn't help but feel a spark of hope. Perhaps, in this strange and uncertain world, he had found an unlikely ally in Nineteen. Only time would tell if their partnership would truly lead to a better future. But for now, Eddie decided to take a leap of faith and see where this path would lead him.