the view between villages // a stranger things choose-your-own-adventure

PAGE 30: Agree to go

If Max wants to go, you all should go. You say so, and Steve sighs but gives in.

At the trailer park, Max rushes into her trailer and says she'll be only two seconds. When she reemerges, she looks freaked.

"You okay?" you ask.

"Fine," she says, avoiding your gaze. "Can we go to the cemetery next?"

You and Steve share a look before he turns the ignition. She must have just had a Vecna vision. You aren't sure why she's hiding it from you all but you don't pressure her for details.

At the graveyard, she goes to sit by Billy's grave. You and Steve wait at the bottom of the hill in the front seats of his BMW. Dustin and Lucas sit on the hood of the car.

Steve sighs and rubs his eyes.

"This is bullshit," he mumbles.

"Vecna?" you ask, though you're pretty sure you already know the answer.

"Yeah," he says. "I thought all this was over after last summer. After the mall."

You shudder at the memories.

"Me too," you say. You pick at your fingernails. "Can I say something horrible?"

Steve frowns but nods.

"I'm really glad Vecna didn't curse me," you say in one big rush. You wince. "God, saying it out loud makes me sound so selfish. I feel so bad for Max, but—"

"Wait, hold on," Steve asks, turning to face you, forehead creased with concern. "You think you're a good candidate to be a Vecna victim?"

Without asking outright, he's asking if you feel as haunted as Max does by what happened last summer, as low as she does. As depressed.

You've always been cagey talking about your mental health. It makes you uncomfortable. You shrug, noncommittal, and turn to face the passenger side window.

"I mean, yeah," you say, trying to keep your voice casual. "I feel pretty shitty about a lot of things, to be honest."

"If you ever start feeling, like, really down, you promise you'd tell me, right?" Steve says. "Because you can tell me anything. I want you to tell me anything."

You nod.

"Of course. And I hope the same goes for you, Mr. Harrington," you say. You gently poke his cheek with your finger. He gives you a miniscule smile, but it drops after he checks his watch.

"It's been too long," he says. "I'm going up there."

Thank God he does. He begins shouting and you, Lucas, and Dustin barrel up the hill after Steve.

Max is in a trance. Vecna is coming for her.

You all panic trying to wake her up. Dustin runs for the walkie-talkie and returns with a stack of tapes, saying Robin and Nancy advised you all play Max's favorite song.

Lucas knows it—Kate Bush, "Running Up That Hill." You put her Walkman around her head and press play. She begins to levitate in the freaking air but the music saves her. She wakes up, shaken up but physically okay.

"I thought we lost you!" Lucas says with a sniffle.

"I'm here," Max says, breathless. "I'm right here."

MAX IS SAVED...FOR NOW. GO TO PAGE 32 TO CONTINUE THE STORY.