The Devil's Gift/The Bloody Handed

1

I hear shouting from a distance.

"That's him! The guy that killed Christie Cunningham!"

"He's right there!"

"Satanic cult murderer!"

"Spawn of Satan himself!"

I hear several names accuse and point fingers at me. Only if they knew we all put our lives on the lines to save their asses. I put my hands up slowly in surrender, shaking. You never knew if one of these lunatics had a gun. And I already needed medical attention myself. I turn around, and immediately am met with a crowd of angry Hawkins citizens.

They gasp. I look down at my torn shirt and bloodied body, knowing I probably don't look too innocent right now.

"He didn't do anything you idiots! We helped you!" Robin yells.

"Don't escalate it, Robin.." Steve says softly with a hand on her shoulder. She frustratedly grasps at her hair and storms inside of the hospital with Nancy, Steve, Erica, and Lucas. I look over to Dustin.

"It's best you go inside. You don't need to see this." Dustin shakes his head.

"You're my best friend. Best friends don't leave each other." He looks at me in a way to where I knew he was referring to the trailer incident. "You told me to never change. So that's what I'm doing." He stands by me, and I put my head down while people still continue to slander me.

I suddenly see rapidly flashing blue and red lights reflect onto the concrete. I look up in the crowd to see police car after police car pull up in front of the emergency room, acting like I just murdered five hundred people.

"Eddie!" A voice yells. I look over and see a familiar my face. A man pushes through the crowd. My uncle looks at me in horror, missing person flyers in his hand. His eyes looked beyond tired and he seemed desperate to reunite with me. I shake my head at him slowly. Lord knows he knows how many times I've visited Hawkins P.D. for questioning.

"Get him!" A lady yells from the crowd. I see cops run up to me, handcuffs, tasers, batons, and guns in hand. Damn pigs. My hands were up, I was completely harmless. Their bodies slam into me, and I fall onto my chest on the ground. I feel the concrete bruise my ribs.

"Leave him alone! He didn't do anything!" Dustin yells.

"Go inside, kid! Stay safe." A cop says. I tilt my head to the right, my cheek on the concrete. I hope this damn plan works, Sinclair. You owe me big time. I feel my wrists tighten with the clicking metal.

"Up! Get up!" A cop kicks my side.

"Would you oh so please help out a damsel in distress?" I grin.

"You're just think so funny, Munson. You won't be laughing in prison."

"Well, I am on the ground. How do you expect me to get up?" The cop glares in response and pulls me up by force, my wrists aching. I hear Dustin trying to protest with the cops but I fixate on my uncle. He deserved a real explanation. But I couldn't give it to him.

I look at the ground and I was being dragged to the car within seconds and thrown in the backseat onto my side. I sit up slowly and look out at the window, Dustin calling my name.

"Get Sinclair!" I yell. The window rolls up on me and I give the kid a small smile. I'll be out soon, just you wait.

The drive was fast. People were slamming the cop car with eggs or they were cursing me out. What did Carver do to make them think this was some cult shit? The car suddenly stops and the door swings open.