Alice the Amazing ⇒ STRANGER THINGS

[62] Bush and Buffett

A/N Enjoy this unedited 4k-word behemoth!

{Dear Billy, Part III}

🩸🩸🩸

Alice found herself, for the second time that day, staring at her bloodied face in a bathroom mirror and wondering what the hell she did in a past life to deserve this kind of torment.

The others hadn't told her the extent of the bleeding—in addition to blood seeping out of her nose and ears, multiple teardrops of red rolled out of both eyes.

In the bathroom of Max's trailer, Alice cleaned her face up. Her mind should've been reeling with thoughts and worries and plans of what to do next, but her brain felt empty. Exhausted and overwhelmed from Vecna's recent attacks, Alice couldn't comprehend the extent of what he'd done—until she tried using her powers.

Once all traces of blood were gone, Alice closed her eyes.

"Clive," she mumbled. "Please. I need you."

She opened them and bit back a sob. Nothing.

Next, she opened and closed her fists a few times, trying to generate any sort of heat or light. Even the tiniest flash would lift her spirits.

Again, nothing. Absolutely nothing.

"Fuck," Alice grumbled. "Fuck, fuck, fuck!"

Alice sank to the floor, hugging her knees to her chest and resting her head on top of them. She closed her eyes and took deep, even breaths, trying to calm down. Now was not the time to panic.

Max needs me to be calm, Alice thought. Think about relaxing things. Birdwatching...beaches...Jimmy Buffett music.

She heard the trailer's front door creak open.

"KALI'S HERE!" Dustin shouted from the main room. "Max, can we make food?"

"Sure, whatever!" Max yelled from the other side of the trailer. After showing Alice to the bathroom, she'd disappeared into her mother's bedroom with another stack of letters.

Alice heard the opening and closing of pantry doors as Lucas and Dustin bickered over who makes a better grilled cheese.

She knew it wasn't right to eavesdrop, but she couldn't help it when Kali and Steve sat by the wall next to the bathroom.

"Are her powers completely gone?" Kali asked in a hushed tone.

"She doesn't think so," Steve whispered back. "But she was out cold for a long time. And she was, like, bleeding. A lot. Out of her nose, ears...eyes...it was terrifying."

"Is she...all right?"

"I don't know." Although Alice couldn't see him right now, she was 99% sure Steve ran a hand through his hair as he said, "If we ask, she'll say she's fine, even if she's not."

Damn. Steve knew her too well.

Clang! Someone dropped a pan in the kitchen.

"You go check on her," Kali said. "I will ensure those two do not burn the house down with their so-called 'culinary prowess.'"

Sure enough, a moment later, Steve knocked on the bathroom door.

"Don't come in," Alice said, still leaning her forehead on her knees. "I'm wallowing."

"You know," Steve said through the closed door. "Wallowing is much more fun with a partner."

"Hmph."