The Devil's Gift/The Bloody Handed

3

The RV stops at a deserted gas station that was somehow still up and running all the way out here. I had fallen asleep in the passenger seat for a hot minute, exhausted from the stress.

"What all are we getting here?" I look over to Steve as he tucks the key into his pocket.

"We need gas. And then we are going to fill up a few gas cans just in case we hit a road block in the middle of nowhere."

"May I ask where we even are going?" Robin says leaning over the seat.

"Yeah, I'd honestly like to know." Eddie says lightly. I roll my eyes.

"I don't know! We are driving until we find a reason to stop. That's what." Steve throws his hands up.

"I'll get out and get the cans." Nancy says. Robin follows suit and so does Eddie. A road trip didn't seem ideal, but right now it was a hell of a lot better than being in Hawkins. I wasn't sure if I could look those people in the eyes and tell them everything would be okay. Because no one knew.  Steve gets up and starts to grab the gas hose, unlocking the fuel tank.

I suddenly start to see the big red LED sign that said "Gas Here!" Start to flicker. It was dark enough for me to see the difference. I squint and lean forward, trying to get a better view. But then I remember. I immediately get up from my seat, and walk down the RV steps.

"Where you going?!" Eddie calls out.

I hold up a hand in response. The light was vividly blinking now that I was close.

"Guys, there's no one in the station!" Robin yells.

"Clary! What the hell are you doing!" Dustin yells.

"Just shut up and come here!" I yell.

I approach the light and the letters start to make a weird buzzing sound as they flicker. I get lights go out often, but something told me to check it out. I put my finger on the flickering S, and tap on it. A black spider comes crawling out of the side and another one behind. I immediately step back, brushing my hands against my jeans.

"It's a light?" Nancy says, her arms crossed.

"Just hear her out." Steve says. I give him a swift nod and a smile to thank him. Eddie repositions himself uncomfortably.

"No. I mean- yes, it is." I turn and look around at everyone who looked at me as if I was going clinically insane. "I just felt like maybe.. maybe there's something here. Right where we are. Maybe it's pure coincidence we stopped here. Just.. look." I point at the black spiders that now multiplied crawling on the lights. "Just think about it. You said no one was in there, Robin." I point to the gas station. "Doesn't this scream fishy to you?"

"The spiders..." Nancy slowly says. She looks at all of us, as if a lightbulb lit up in her brain. "Vecna, or Henry- had an obsession with them. He showed me in the vision. He even drew them." She nods. "I think Clary is onto something."

"So what, we can't go off of a sign!" Eddie says with his hands flailing.

"But we can go off of them." I say pointing at the spiders. They start to lead a trail into the dirt and dead grass.

"Where they go, Vecna goes." Dustin breathes. "It makes sense."

"Let's park the camper for the night and return back to this in the morning. We can scope out the gas station and see if we can find anything Vecna related that we didn't see." Robin says nodding.

"Sounds like a plan," Steve says.

We all head back the RV. Something just told me to go to it, and I hoped I was right. But in what event would you find a swarm of spiders crawling out of a lit up sign in the middle of nowhere? It was like ants to dripping a piece of food.

I sit on the couch while everyone scavenges for things to keep them warm. Wherever we were, it sure did have a country draft to it. I pull my knees up to my chest and tuck my head in the hole. I could sleep like this. I've grown accustomed to the smallest of places, and it paid off eventually.

"Here, you could use this." Steve hands me a thin blanket.

"Oh, no. You need it." I take his hand and shove it back to him.

"I insist. I'm not a huge blanket guy."

"I mean.. that sounds a bit psycho to me but-"

"Here." Eddie throws a blanket on top of me. "I got her covered, Harrington." He gives him an off-standish look with his hands in his pockets.

Steve rolls his eyes and look to me. "Munson's got you covered. I'll give it to Dustin."

"Thank you, Steve." I smile. I try to keep it until he walks away.

"What the hell is your problem, Eddie?" I spit, pushing the blanket off of me.

"You're toying with me. You go talk to Harrington for hours, you accept something from him.." he looks up and shakes his head. "That's just stupid, Gregerson."

"Wanna know what's stupid, Munson?" I raise my voice ready to contest. I stand up and look up at him. I was still extremely short compared to him but he should know better by now. I felt everyone's eyes on us but I didn't care. I lift up my shirt to my bra and reveal the carving, the bite mark scars on both sides of my body and my stomach, and lacerations that were still stitched. I could hear everyone murmur and I saw Eddie's eyes lower. "It's stupid that you can sit here and treat me like I'm some child. It's stupid that you say you want me to yourself but you can't show it. You and this whole group has been the only thing keeping me going, Munson. I thought maybe- just maybe I finally scored someone who gave a shit! Maybe you do, maybe you don't. Your cocky games will not slide with me. You may care, but you sure as hell have an amazing way at showing it sometimes. Last I recalled, I took a death note for you. I now look like a hideous freak, but hey it's fine because we are all alive, right?" I cock my head to the side and laugh with a scoff, crossing my arms. "Has it ever occurred to you maybe I didn't want to be saved?" His eyes go blank as he penetrates my soul with his eyes. "I am not someone to be toyed around with. If you're that desperate, then I suggest you get yourself a prepped out high school girl- I'm sure they will just love the act you're putting on. I don't live a Grease reality. Good friggin' night." I reach down and grab the blanket, shoving it into Eddie's chest. "And I don't want it." I throw my arms out and slightly give a sarcastic bow and storm out of the trailer, slamming the door behind me.