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

PAGE 39: The Three Gates

Unfortunately, your friends did not get rid of Vecna.

He escaped, but he was badly injured at the time. Max claims she can't feel his presence in her mind anymore, but she still keeps her Walkman close just in case.

Two nights after Vecna's plan failed, you and Steve share a much-needed intimate moment. You feel a little wild as you kiss him with a kind of zeal that only comes about from surviving a near-death experience.

Steve's hands wander your frame as the two of you kiss and lay in your bed.

"We don't have long," Steve says, breathless as he pulls away. "The others are on their way over to make our plan to actually kill Vecna and—"

"Shut up and kiss me," you say. Steve obliges.

The kiss turns steamier, and you wrestle with your shirt. You're about to pull it off over your head, but before you can, your doorbell rings.

You groan and rest your forehead on Steve's chest.

"Their timing is impeccable," you grumble. Steve chuckles.

"We'll finish this later," he promises.

"Good." You press one last kiss to his lips. "I'll hold you to that."

You stand from the bed, wander to the front room, and open the door. On the other side is—

"Jason?!" you gasp. Jason Carver—who, last you heard, was being detained by Hawkins PD for illegally owning a firearm—raises his gun and glares at you.

"Hi again, freak," he snaps.

Before you can say a word or shout for help, the gun fires.

You don't feel it at first. It's just a loud noise echoing through the attic, and then you're falling.

You hear shouting and then you blink and then—

***

"WAKE UP!"

You gasp and open your eyes.

You haven't been shot. You're standing in your bedroom, and Steve is standing in front of you, gripping your shoulders. Tears are welling in his eyes. Behind him are the rest of your friends, who must have arrived while you were otherwise indisposed.

You taste copper. You reach up and wipe blood from your lip.

"What just happened?" you ask, voice shaking.

"No way," Steve mutters. "It can't be."

"It's Vecna," Dustin says, eyes wide. "He has three gates open. He still only needs one more."

Guilt flashes on Max's face.

"He couldn't get to me," she says, "so he chose a new victim."

You swallow hard, bile rising in your throat.

"I'm cursed," you mumble.

"No," Steve says, shaking his head. "No. Hey, listen to me, Waldenbooks, okay? We're not going to let him get you. He didn't get Max. He won't get you, either."

Despite the terror coursing through you, you force yourself to believe him. No matter what happens, you and your group will find a way to kill Vecna and end this. Once and for all.

THE END...FOR NOW.

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