𝐄𝐏𝐈𝐒𝐎𝐃𝐄 𝐒𝐈𝐗
𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘪𝘷𝘦

roa finished braiding maxs hair, then getting up so they can join the others in the car.

nancy was driving, as robin spoke to her about wanting to stay in the car.

"at least he can drink himself into feeling better," steve's voice was muffled as he shoved pringles in his mouth.

"that's what my mom does," max said. roa put her hand on maxs thigh, squeezing it in comfort. the redhead put her hand on ro's.

"oh shit", nancy said as she slowed down the car. everyone leaned forward to see what was happening.

they all leaped out of the car, watching as the sheriff showed a picture of eddie munson.

roa felt her hand lift up and cover her mouth in shock. "this is not good."

"really not good," steve chimed.

"dustin, can you hear me? king?" eddie's voiced was heard on the radio.

"eddie. holy shit," dustin whispered as everyone gathered around him. "are you okay?"

"nah, man. pretty.. pretty goddamn far from okay." his voice shook.

"where is he?" roa asked.

"where are you?" dustin spoke.

"skull rock. do you know it?" he responded. "uh, yeah. that's near cornwallis and—"

"garrett, yeah. i know where that is," steve interrupted dustin.

roa snatched the radio from dustin and pressed the button, "hang in there, munson. we're coming."

—

the group was now walking in the woods, in groups. dustin and steve, robin, nancy and lucas, roa and max.

"they have us going in different directions, if we get lost i swear—" max rambled but stopped as she noticed roa looking down. "hey. you okay?" she held onto her hand.

"uh, yeah. peachy. just thinking about everything. you know?"

"yeah."

"why you?"

max halted, "i-i don't know."

"it's like everyone vecna targets is going through something in their life. something that's—" her voice trembled.

"hurting them," max continued for roa.

"yeah," roa mumbled. "im sorry."

"for what?" max asked, noticing the tears welling in her girls eyes.

"for not being there for you."

"it's not your fault ro."

"no"

"i disappeared."

roa shook her head, "no, no, you didn't. i just didn't look hard enough. okay? but i see you now." max was lost for words. she threw her arms around roa. squeezing her like it was gonna be her last day.

roa held onto her head, then pulling back to kiss max on the forehead. the walked back to where eddie was gulping down some water and beer.

"munson!" roa called out, eddie standing up with his arms wide open for roa to hug him. she rushed towards him and squeezed him.

"hi king," he rubbed her back.

"boom!" dustin's voiced echoed, everyone shot their heads toward him.

"see? mental," steve mumbled towards eddie.

eddie nodded, then looked down at his bracelet. he took it off and headed towards roa. he tapped her shoulder, she turned as he held it out for her.

"for you," he bowed. roa laughed and watched as he clipped it for her around her wrist. "thank you," he hugged her once again.

dustin rushed the group to follow him immediately.

—
it was now dark, max clutching on roa's hand hard. everybody followed behind dustin who was holding a compass.

"dustin! i'm not on the track team for a reason," roa panted as everyone tried to catch up with him.

everyone stepped infront of the lake, the moonlight glistening on the waves.

"oh man," steve said. "you gotta be shitting me."

"i thought these woods were familiar." eddie said

"lovers lake," robin chimed.

"there's a gate in lovers lake?" max asked.

"whenever the demogorgon attacked, it always left an opening. maybe vecnas the same way," nancy said.

"only one way to find out," steve responded. everyone rushed towards a covered boat, setting it down in the lake.

nancy, robin, eddie, and steve entered. dustin tried to go in but was denied. "you guys stay here with max. keep an eye out."

"you keep an eye out," dustin sassily said. "it's my goddamn theory."

"bedtime at nine kiddos," robin called out as the boat started to flow away. dustin stuck the middle finger up.

"miss you already!" roa called out to robin who yelled , "me too!"

"they're stopping. what are they stopping for?" lucas said as he looked into the binoculars.

"uh, dustin, your compass has gone from wonky to wonky with a capital aah!" robin spoke.

"ugh. when'd steve get so hairy?" lucas said in disgust. "right?" dustin replied.

"let me see," max snatched the binoculars from lucas.

"huh?!" roa turned her head, then snatching it from max and viewing it herself, "ew. he needs to tame that jungle."

"if there's a gate down there, it's technically a water gate," dustin looked at the teens next to him who gave him a blank look. "watergate" he chuckled.

there was indistinct radio chatter. roa furrowed her brows and turned slowly, spotting flashlights. "down by the water!" an officer yelled.

"fuck. down!" roa pulled max and lucas down. "shit."

"cops," max pointed out. "shit, shit, shit," lucas said in a panic.

"we can't let them find eddie." roa whispered.

"stay with me," max got up, "hey officers! over here! i found the killer! this way!"

"max!" roa scolded but got up and followed her. as she was running, she tripped.

"roa!" lucas called out.

roa was lifted up and was faced with the officer, "oh hey," she smiled sheepishly.