The Protector

The Monster and the Superhero Part 3

The group quickly drive to Max's shrink's house before Max got out of the car. After a few seconds of waiting, Steve, Maddie, and Dustin watch as Max goes into the house.

"Okay. She's in", Steve told the other two teens. "I'm missing collarbones, not eyes", Dustin responded causing Maddie to chuckle.

"So, we gonna talk about... it?", Dustin asked Steve. "Huh? Sorry, talk about what?", Steve questioned back. "Your temporary insanity earlier today when you basically threw yourself at Nance", Dustin stated bluntly.

"That's not what happened", Steve answered dismissively. "That's exactly what happened",
Maddie told the teen. "Pretty sure that's what happened. It was public. There were like a lot of witnesses", Dustin added.

"Are you guys implying that I still have a thing for Nance?", Steve asked the two. "No. I'm not implying. I'm stating. And , as it relates to your steadfast refusal to date Robin, it's pretty much the only logical explanation", Dustin said causing Maddie to chuckle lightly thinking about Robin's reasoning for not dating Steve.

"That's not the only one. And as for Nance, I was just trying to protect a friend. A friend, Henderson. Okay?", Steve questioned. "Okay", Dustin replied.

"I don't want to find her in the morning with her eyes sucked out of the front of her skill by this Vecna creep", Steve stated angrily.

"You're like bright red in the face right now", Dustin chuckled out. "I'm not. I don't want to talk about it. I'll punch you so hard your teeth will fall back out", Steve added.

"Who. Too far", Dustin stated. "Not cool. Sorry", Steve said. "Not cool. It's okay", Dustin responded. The two boys did a quick fist bump making Maddie roll her eyes and lean back into her seat. The only thing Maddie could do now is wait for Max to come back out and save her from the testosterone levels that were currently in the car.

After a moment of silence Maddie started to think about her nightmare the other night. It was one of the worst ones she has had in a while.

Even though it was bad, it was her typical dream. Billy was dying, Maddie was locked in place, and Billy would be impaled just like every other time. For some reason, this one felt more realistic than the others.

Trying to get her mind off of the topic, Maddie quickly thought about Eddie. He was there for her the other night and he barely even knew her.

And she clung to him for comfort. Maddie doesn't even look for comfort from her own family during her nightmares. She actually opened up to him. But why now and why him?

Before Maddie could think about the situation any longer, her thoughts were interrupted by a fiery red head entering the car.

The first thing Max said once she got into the car was for Steve to drive. Before he could argue more, Maddie gave Steve a look causing him to drive away.

Shortly after the group left Ms. Kelley's house, they heard a voice coming through the radio. "Dustin, it's Lucas. Do you copy? Dustin", Lucas' voice rang through the car.

"Lucas? Where the hell have you been?", Dustin asked the boy. "Just listen. Are you looking for Eddie? Yeah, we found him, no thanks to you", Dustin replied. "You found him?", Lucas questioned.

"He's at a boathouse on Coal Mill Road. Don't worry. He's safe", Dustin told Lucas. "You guys know he killed Chrissy, right?", Lucas asked.

"That's bullshit. Eddie tried to save Chrissy", Dustin explained to Lucas. "Then why do all the cops say he did it?", Lucas questioned back.

Not being able to take it anymore Max grabbed the walkie. "Lucas, you're so behind it's ridiculous, okay?", Max stated annoyed. "Just meet us at the school. We'll explain later", Maddie told the boy.

"I.. I can't, Maddie. I think some real bad shit's about to go down", Lucas said nervously. "What are you talking about? What bad shit?", Max asked.

The group didn't hear anything but static on the walkie after this. "Lucas, Lucas?", Max questioned into the walkie only to receive no answer.

Maddie, Steve, Max, and Dustin finally made it to the school. They all walked in together before hearing Robin ask, "Dustin, do you copy?". "Yeah I copy", Dustin responded.

"So, Nancy's a genius. Vecna's first victims date back all the way to 1959. Her shot in the dark was a bullseye", Robin told the group.

"Okay, that's totally bonkers, but I can't really talk right now", Dustin stated nervously. "Wait, what are you doing?", Robin questioned.

"Breaking and entering in a school to retrieve confidential and extremely personal files", Dustin answered. "Can you repeat that?", Robin asked.

"Just get your ass over here, stat. We'll explain everything", Dustin said before shutting off the walkie. The group finally made it to the Guidance Office causing Max to quickly open the door before walking in.

Max and Maddie walked towards the filing cabinets. "It's like a mini-Watergate or something", Dustin stated from behind the two girls. "Hawkinsgate", Dustin said causing Maddie to roll her eyes.

"Didn't those guys get caught?", Steve questioned. "Holy shit", Max said causing the teens to look at her. "You found it?", Dustin asked.

"Yeah, and not just Chrissy's file. Fred was seeing Ms. Kelley too", Max stated while pulling out two files. Maddie and Max quickly shared nervous looks.

Steve, Dustin, and Maddie looked over Max's shoulder to see the symptoms of Fred and Chrissy. The symptoms list: suffering from past trauma, severe headaches, nosebleeds, and constant nightmares.

Maddie stumbled back while thinking about how she had all of the symptoms. "Maddie", she heard a feminine voice say. "Maddie", the voice said again but it came out more muffled this time.

"Maddie", Maddie heard a very deep, raspy voice say. Maddie quickly turned around only to find out nothing was there. She grabbed her flashlight before walking out of the classroom.

Maddie walked down the hallway until she heard a clock chime. She followed the sound of clicking until she saw a large grandfather clock buried into the wall.

She approached the clock slowly while the clicking and chiming had yet to stop. Just as Maddie reached the clock she heard the low, raspy voice state, "Maddie".

Maddie quickly caught a glimpse of scary, scaly face with bright haunting eyes. She awoke with a gasp seeing the worried faces of Steve and Dustin in front of her.

A/N: So Maddie is a new victim of Vecna! Please feel free to comment, I would love to hear your thoughts and opinions! As always I hope you enjoyed and don't forget to vote. Love from the author, over and out!