__________
-UNKEPT-
PROMISES

No one ever expects for loss to occur, but it's one of the guaranteed things in life. When Valentina was little, she would go over her grandmother's and sleepover. So when she got the news that Rosa Hernandez passed away, Valentina didn't know exactly how to react. Should she feel numb?

Broken?

Guilty?

Grief?

A million thoughts, a million memories, the girl she was, felt the need to grow up and hide her emotions. That traumatic moment soon turned a question in the back of her mind if it truly happened or not. As she was slowly forgetting the presence of her grandma.

After very little convincing, Valentina was in the backyard of her house. Thankfully, her parents were at the church volunteering for the fair. But that left her little brother being left home alone, most likely reading comics, listening to some Depeche Mode.

Shortly after her grandma died, Valentina's aunt held a funeral, but it didn't exactly help that it was one-thousand miles away, in Mexico. And the main thing that didn't help was that it was held too early. Much less on a Friday and with not being able to attend, the guilt was rising and there was still some closure needed.

Marco and Valentina took it upon themselves to make their own grave site in the backyard, where all the plants and flowers were, Rosa's favorite place.

Instead of a gravestone, there was one shaped out of styrofoam. With it reading;

Rosa Hernandez
April 21, 1908 - April 22, 1985
Mother & Grandmother
A beautiful and giving soul,
you will not be forgotten
Love, your children & grandchildren

Max Mayfield inspired Valentina Alma to say one last goodbye. Even if it may just be cheap talk.

Taking a deep breath, Valentina started talking aloud. "Hey, abuela, long time, no see. I don't really know what to say. Uhm," she started tearing up.

"It's almost been a year now and it feels like it doesn't get any easier. I may not show it or say it, but I miss you. I really do, I just wish that sometimes I could accept it and move on, but it's practically hard when flashbacks of us pop up. It feels like a blur, but I don't think I'm ready to let go. I never was. Never will be."

"If I do, it feels like I'll be hurting that little girl that laughed when we were watching Willy Wonka. Like I'd be letting my childhood go. Sometimes I'll get mad and cry myself to sleep because I feel like I failed you. Your English was limited, but you always did try your best. Yet if I would've taken the opportunity to ask the questions I wanted to, I think I would've been okay." More tears started to fill the brim of Valentina's eyes.

"And it feels like you were ripped away from me. I feel lost, so lost that I keep digging a bigger hole. I feel like a burden, to mom, to dad, to my stupid friends, to Ms. Kelly, and even to the new group. But I think you would've loved them. Especially Steve, the Steve I talked to you about over the phone. You said that him and I would end up together, but I said that you were crazy cause that was another level of delusion," she laughed and sniffled.

"I just hope you know that I appreciated everything you ever did for me. Though I'm kind of mad at you. The last time we spoke, you said we'd see each other again. An unkept promise, something that I feel I keep giving myself. And as much as I don't say it cause I don't really believe in it, I love you. I love you, abuela. Para siempre." (Forever)

She still had tears remaining on her face. Wiping her hands on her pants in stress before kissing her hand and then touching the "gravestone," then picking out a white daisy, placing it in front.

A sudden shift in temperature, sunny Hawkins, turned gloomy. "What the hell?"

Looking up, there were multiple rain clouds. A chime of a clock, then a voice. "Ay, Nieta. Why do you doubt yourself?" (Granddaughter)

Turning around, she faced the woman she thought she'd never see again. "How?"

Her grandma started to take steps towards her. A small smile on her face. "Corre." (Run)

"What?" Valentina didn't know if heard correctly.

"Oh Valentina, you really should listen to your grandma more often," a deep voice hid in the shadows.

"You."

"Yes, Me. Your time has come," the figure started to hold up its hand.

Marco Alma had gotten up to get a new comic, looking out the window, stood his sister. A look of confusion and curiosity on his face.

"Valentina?" He whispered.

Walking out the back door, going to tap her on the shoulder. "Hey, I thought you were sleeping over your new friend's house?"

A few seconds passed and Valentina still didn't move. "Okay, by now I thought you would've responded, apparently not. No, but seriously, what are you doing here?"

Again, no answer. Marco moved to be in front of her, he was met with her eyes rolled back. "What the fuc-? Don't mess with me like this."

Still no answer. Clapping his hands, attempting to grave her attention. "Hey! Wake up! You need to wake up!"

A clap of thunder mixed with fog, not so good of a combination. Valentina was running, running, like her life depended on it.

"You can't hide from me."

A shaky breath, tired body, looking at the bundle of red clouds. Knowing that it'd be the wrong direction, she went for it anyway.

A look of awe on her face, as she saw a staircase, a floating clock, and vines, slithering vines. All of a sudden, Vecna appeared before her. Tilting his head in a taunting way. "What're you doing here, Valentina?"

Trying to back up, hitting a tree. "Please don't do this."

Marco was still clueless about getting his sister out of the trance she was in. "Valentina!"

At last, Steve heard the yell for her. Running to the back, with the others following. "What's going on?"

Leaning to the side to spot Steve, Marco was relieved. "Steve, thank god. She's been like this for at least two, maybe three minutes."

In urgency, Steve told Dustin, "Call Nancy and Robin!"

Leaving Max, Lucas, Steve, and Marco trying to find a solution. "What do we do?"

"I don't know!"

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

Dustin ran to Steve's car, jumping inside, looking for the walkie-talkie. "Yes!"

"Robin! Nancy! Anyone answer! This is an emergency."

No answer. "Shit."

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

"Ooh maybe one of those true love kisses will work!" Marco suggested. All heads turned to Steve.

"Those things don't work, besides this isn't a fairytale," Steve gestured to Valentina.

"Yeah well does anyone else have an idea cause if not, I don't know how I'll explain this to our parents."

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

"Come on, answer! Nancy? Robin? God? Anyone?" Dustin still trying to get ahold of the two.

"Dustin?"

"Robin? Thank god! There's an emergency. Valentina's in a trance and won't wake up."

"Shit! We found out that music, music is the key. Play her favorite song on her Walkman and it should work," Robin carefully explained.

"Son of a bitch, thank you! Over and out," he yelled while grabbing Valentina's backpack.

"Guys! What's her favorite song?" Dustin questioned whilst running to the group. Dispensing all of the items in the backpack, everyone started to look through the cassettes.

"This one! She always plays this one! It's track one!" Marco handed the tape to Steve who was closest to his sister.

Scrambling to put the tape in the Walkman, he then pressed play, while the headphones sat on Valentina's head.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

"Look at you! Miserable and weak. I expected more from you 006. You're not such a brave soul after all," Vecna taunted her.

"006? What's that?"

"Oh you don't know? You're special, and of very good use. I've been using you to find my next victims. The visions, the nightmares, they don't happen just because."

A gasp left her lips. "Ho-How did you know about the visions?"

A chilling and wicked laugh sounded through the red soup. "You poor innocent girl. I'm afraid I've said too much, but lucky for you and mostly for me, your time is here. Now."

You think that something's happening

And it's bigger than your life

A portal opened, where all five people could be seen trying to get Valentina back.

But only what you're hearing

"Your friends think they're smart, but I'm always one step ahead," Vecna continued to have his hand out towards Valentina, but this time she felt a force.

She struggled to get out of his grip as she saw herself starting to float in the air, in the real world.

Her left arm snapped.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

The group of five took a step back in surprise and shock. Valentina's arm had been snapped, where it bent in a worrisome way.

Marco terrified, Max biting her lip in worry, Lucas and Dustin holding onto each other, and Steve, well he was trying to pull Valentina down. "No! You don't get to do this!"

Will you still remember?

When the morning light has come

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

Valentina screamed in pain.

She started choking, trying to catch her breath, saying one name. "Victor."

This catches Vecna off guard, letting a slight grip off of Valentina.

Will the songs be playing over and over

She ran. Ran for her grandma. Ran for herself. Ran for Max. Ran for the sake that her left arm was basically dangling from the ligament.

"You can't escape me Valentina Alma."

'Til you do it all over again

Play (play), the game tonight

Can you tell me if it's wrong or right?

Making rocks fall from the sky, Valentina almost fell, but is now covered in blood.

Is it worth the time? Is it worth the price?

Do you see yourself in the white spotlight?

Then play the game to tonight

Running with more purpose, an escape from hell, wanting to see her new friends and little brother.

The finish line has never been any farther.

- i also may or may not have cried
while writing the letter

- listening to marjorie by taylor while
writing this chapter brought
out another version of me
(evermore is underrated)

edit one: 04/11/2024:
- well damn...