Chapter Text
I walked my way through the woods of Hawkins, pushing branches out of the way. I walked beside Andy. I would consider this a hangout.. but this is just a chore for him.
We’re meeting Andy’s girlfriend, Stacey, at Lover's Lake. I'm helping Andy set up a special date for her. I’m not sure why he chose me to help and, didn’t just pick a friend he was closer with but, hey I’ll take it. Ever since Eddie Munson crushed Jason Carver into bits .. Andy had no one to help him set up his romantic dates, so I was his replacement.
“Sooo.. next time ya think you’ll be the one bringing a special lady?” Andy nudged my shoulder and I let out a sheepish laugh. “Maybe. We’ll have to see. Love is in the air.”
As embarrassing as it sounds.. I’d never had a proper girlfriend. I didn’t understand the appeal. They had liked me before but I’d never reciprocated the feelings. I’d kissed many women.. But that didn’t mean I really loved them.
Andy stared and without a sense of tease in his voice, he said “I’m sure there’s someone out there for you man. You just have to wait for them.” I smiled. A real smile. “Thanks..” I looked back at him and continued to move tree limbs out of our way.
I held a big box in my hands, filled with candles, artificial rose petals, and a cheap bottle of wine though, they’re not of age.
I nudged Andy’s shoulder. “How did you know.. Stacey was like- the one?” I looked forward embarrassed for even asking. Sappy topics were never our choice but, we’re at Lover's Lake, there’s an exception.
Andy’s grin grew larger. “It felt like God revealed her to me this summer. The sunlight shined so brightly on her skin at the fair.. I knew right then and there she was the one. I needed her in my life.” He kept a steady smile and stared off into the distance.
“That’s almost magical.” Andy chuckled. “Sort of but she’s also just a high school girlfriend.. don’t get ahead of yourself.” I nodded and let out a breath.
Love wasn’t just for a moment in my eyes.. it was forever. Love was precious. I would never say that aloud though because, in everyone else’s eyes it’s something to play with. “Haha! Yeah, I’m not thinking about beyond high school or some shit..” I said rubbing the back of my neck. I walked towards Lover's Lake and smiled at the view.
“Stacey’s gonna love it.” The night sky was bright and the stars glimmered in the sky.
I set down the box and took the rose petals, scattering them carefully on the land and into the lake. Andy took the candles and began to light them before placing his picnic blanket.
“I’ll head out before she gets here. I don’t wanna stick around for the gross stuff.” Andy smirked “You sure you don’t wanna watch me get to 2nd base?” He said teasingly “I’d rather die!” We both began to snicker. I got a rock from the woods and slid it across the water, the water was smooth and at peace. No matter what came at it. “Good one dude” Andy said with a grin on his face while digging for a good rock in the grass.
Andy grabbed a rock from the pile he’d been digging in .. I was expecting him to find a giant rock but no. “Aw shit man I cut my palm,” Andy said in a sigh. I walked over to him to look at the cut but- I felt the world around me tensen. It wasn’t between Andy and l. The stars felt darker. The air felt denser. The forest went quiet. I heard a deep growl from the forest.
“Andy,” I whispered and he looked at me.
“You hear that too?” Andy nodded and stood up straight. “That’s not a noise chicks make, is it?” I looked back at Andy “No.. not even close. Sounds like a wolf maybe.”
He stared into the woods. Limbs of trees began falling from the treetops.. maybe it was just the wind. But was it? The crackling of twigs got heavier and every insect and animal went silent. Something appeared through the trees. I squinted as I looked up. A look of agony and shock appeared on my face. “ANDY. RUN.”
The 12-foot figure growled as I ran towards the other side of the creek. I stared at Andy as he slowly backed away when the beast got closer. It was lanky, and faceless. Just a mouth with way over a dozen teeth. What the hell, I thought. The beast approached Andy. “ANDY RUN.”
Something inside of me told me I needed to save him.. but my feet wouldn’t move. I was in such a state of shock that my body couldn’t possibly move. “ANDY!!!!” I yelled. Do something. Andy got his bloody, yet sharp rock from the grass and threw it at the beast.
My stomach sank to the dirt.
No no.. no..
The figure lunged at Andy ferociously tackling him. Andy punched, kicked, and screamed as the creature bared his claws into his ribcage, tearing his flesh apart slowly. The creature ate his head off. I stared at Andy.. now headless and his guts being eaten out of his body. I hid myself behind a tree and stared as the entity feasted on my only friend.
“Do something.” I thought. But my legs couldn’t move. I was frozen in place I just watched as my friend was mauled. The beast stood again. Was it like some sort of monster? No.. it began to walk towards the tree I was hiding behind. I grabbed about a dozen rocks and plunged them towards the figure, It began to run towards me. Is this how it ended? In the dark? Alone?
I covered my head and cried like a little girl. I waited for it. The feeling of the monster's nails tearing me into bits.
Nothing.
I crept my eyes open. The figure's head jolted towards the lake it jumped into the water and suddenly vanished. The water is steady once more. Why did it spare me? It’s as if something called him. I slowly crept towards Andy’s lifeless body. No. No…
I kneeled on the floor and grasped his body in my hands. His guts are now on the outside. My hands are now covered in my friend’s blood. I burst into tears and covered my face with my soaked hands.
What was that thing? Did it really just.. pop in and out? Dine and dash on the only friend I had left? I heard a snap in the woods. Was it another monster? I won’t let this terrible night repeat.
I sobbed and wailed in agony.
“GO. AWAY.”
I held my chest and sank into my own arms.
It was Andy’s girlfriend.
Stacey Albright.
She crouched over and covered her mouth staring in agony, at her boyfriend’s pale remains, and dull eyes.
“Andy. Oh my God.” She began speaking again. She looked up at me with tears dripping from her eyes. “You….” She muttered. “YOU FREAK!” Her Mutter turned to a yell. I sat beside my friend and sobbed looking up at Stacey with remorse in my eyes, as if I had been the one who shredded Andy into bits. I was incapable of finding the words to describe what I just witnessed, but it sure as hell wasn’t humane.
Stacey walked over slowly and looked at my blood-soaked hands. “How could you do something like this?” She stared. Her eyes once bright, are now black and uneasy. “What?-“ I managed to get out. “I didn’t! I swear it was a “.
Stacey interrupted me- “A monster?” I wailed a quick reply “Stacey it was at least 12 feet tall, it had teeth for a face.” I sobbed. She uttered again. Her words hit me like a gunshot. “The only monster here is you.” She covered her face and sobbed holding her now lifeless boyfriend’s hand. She let out another sob of agony. Her mascara began to smear down her face, and her dress for date night was blood-soaked.
I stared at her in despair and put my hand on hers.. a shameful attempt to comfort her. “It just lunged at him.. I swear. I saw it with my own eyes.”
Tears streamed down my face. Stacey couldn’t find the will to look at me once more. The woods became silent. You couldn’t hear a single cricket or toad. Only the still water where the figure had disappeared could be heard flowing gently.
“Leave, chance. I know what you’re guilty of.”
She grazed her hands over what was left of Andy. “But- Stacey I-“ I begged as tears ran down my cheeks to my jawline. “It was some sort of- animal. How can a human possibly do..” I observed Andy’s headless corpse again. “This?”.
Stacey looked up at me one last time. “I don’t want to see you ever again. Not even God will disregard you for this.” She let out another painful sob.
My stomach sank to the floor. I stared at her. Did she really think I’d done this? Does she really believe I’m capable of such.. murder? Will God still see me as a son of Adam? “GO.” She shrieked and her body fell onto her boyfriend’s still body.
I got up quickly and trembled before I began to run. I’d never run faster in my life. Was I running out of fear? Shame? Guilt? Or because Stacey was pleading for me to leave. I stopped for a second and looked at my hands. The blood is on my hands. This was all my fault. If I hadn’t stood there like a coward.. maybe Andy would still be alive. Maybe I would be a third wheel right now. I started running again.
Was I a murderer? No. I didn’t do anything to Andy. That Satan spawn did. No one would believe me… really? A monster. I shook my head in disbelief.
My head leaned against the side of my house. My mind was spinning, my head was pounding. I covered my mouth and let out a muffled sob. I opened my window and jumped inside the comfort of my bedroom. I ran to my bathroom and poured soap on my now blood-soaked hands. I scrubbed. I scrubbed until my hands went numb. I looked up in the mirror.. ashamed of what man I saw.
Was this the “brave and Heroic” son my mother had raised? I stared at myself. Just like I stared as Andy’s life was taken from him. I began to weep and covered up my face from myself.
I fell onto the floor crying. My heart was in pain. He was gone. Andy was really gone. I covered my face with my hands and, slowly layed down on the bathroom Mat. “I should’ve helped him..” I whispered to myself. “I could have saved his life.”
————
I woke up that morning. Cold.. alone.. I lifted my head. I pinched my arm gently. It wasn’t a sick dream, it was my reality. Andy had died last night. From some deranged creature.
My alarm began to blare from my bedroom. I barely had any energy or will in my body.. I stood up and did a zombie-like walk towards my alarm, turning it off. I rubbed my forehead. I rubbed the sleep out of my eyes. I could feel how puffy they were from crying.
“Shit…..” I sighed under my breath “I have to go through school now.” I reminded myself. I felt like crying but, my eyes were dry. I ran out of tears to shed. Andy was all I had left.. Jason was gone.. Patrick was gone.. Lucas is distant.. and .. I just let Andy get eaten alive. What a disgrace.
“God, please forgive me. For I do not know what I have caused.” I muttered under my breath as I walked into my bathroom, turning on the shower. I felt the cold water running down my spine. Wash it away. Wash the memory away. I scrubbed my body. I prayed the water could wash away what happened last night.
I put a towel around myself as I turned the shower off. I continued to freshen up before, heading downstairs with my backpack. Maybe this is all a dream.
My mom looked at me with a smile “Good morning, Mahal! How’d ya sle-“she stopped in her sentence and stared at me. “Chance.. is everything okay?”
Maybe she noticed my eyes. I'm sure they were still puffy. I nodded. Act normal. Pretend nothing happened last night.. Make it go away.
“I’m great! I just woke up too early that’s all” I said with a half-ass smile grabbing a piece of toast my mom had cooked. She was an amazing mom but, she couldn’t know what happened last night.
“Okay..” she said. She fed my baby brother in his high chair talking to him in a sweet baby voice. I could feel the air around us tense. I wanted to break the silence but.. what could I say?
“Did ya have fun with Andy last night?”
I zoned out to her face. Andy..? I stood there for a long time. The shame grew in my face and guilt took over my soul. “Chance?” My mother said. I snapped out of it.
“Yep. He just had to go home early that’s all.. I’ve gotta head out Mom. I wouldn’t want to be late on game day.” As she began to say her goodbyes I ran out of the door and rushed into my car.
I let out a breath, I’ve been holding it in for what feels like hours. I put my hand over my chest and leaned my head back onto my car seat
I started up my car and drove. I couldn’t get the image out of my head. Andy’s soulless body.. no head. I just watched. Andy and I were never that close, but he was a human being. He was one of the only people I had left. I sniffed as I continued driving, but every thought led back to last night.. the monster.. Andy..
And..
Oh my Gosh. Stacey. She thinks I gutted Andy. She’s probably told people her thoughts by now. “Shit..shit!” I whispered under my breath. I bobbed my leg up and down. I just need to stand my ground. It really was a monster. I know I sounded insane but it was the truth. I could feel my fear arise. I parked in the parking lot of Hawkins High School. Just act casual. “Nothing happened,” I repeated in my mind.
I got out of my car. I put on my usual charming smile and fixed my hair as I stepped into school. Act normal. I thought again. I walked to my locker and put my bags away. It felt different. Not because Andy was gone but.. The room was quieter than usual.. the air felt stiff. Like no one was saying what they felt.
I turned around to see a group of girls staring. Not just any group of girls.. Stacey’s friend group. I decided I was officially screwed. She must have spread a rumor.. maybe she told people an animal attacked Andy. That's not what she was conveying last night.
I slammed my locker shut as a familiar face appeared behind it. Troy Walsh.
Troy was number 10 on the basketball team and he had always been suspiciously close with Stacey. His eyes trailed me up and down until he pushed me up to the locker. Troy had a reputation for harming those around him.. no matter the circumstance. He once beat the tar out of the dudes in the hellfire club back when they were in middle school.
I winced at the pain of my back slamming against the metal locker.
“I know what you did,” Troy whispered. I stared. Eyes blank and breath heavy.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I pushed Troy off of myself but Troy just slammed me harder, pressing his thumb onto my Adam’s apple.
“Do I need to tell everyone?” Troy spoke up, and everyone’s head turned towards Troy and me. As if a fight was about to break down in the middle of the hallway
“NO- I.. I didn’t do anything.” I said honestly. “Oh yeah?” Troy replied with a sly smirk on his face.
Troy punched my jaw forcefully. I groaned in pain. My jaw was throbbing. I didn’t want to look fragile. My head was spinning but I managed to fix my stance. My head slammed into my locker once more. I fell back but I fixed my shoulders and stood confidently again.
God my jaw hurts. Don’t let it show. This is just a misconception. If I thought he killed someone I’d do the same thing he was doing. I didn’t want to hurt him but.. I had to protect myself.
I lifted my leg and kicked him in the chest hard! He fell back and he didn't look mad anymore, he looked infuriated.
“IS ANYONE WONDERING WHERE ANDY ANDERSON IS ON HAWKINS BIG GAME DAY?” — “No!” I shouted over Troy's voice. “You’ve got it all wrong! Please.. let me explain. It doesn’t have to be like this.”
Troy approached me once again. I spat in his face and held my shoulders high and confident. Troy started up again “WHAT, CHANCE? EXPLAIN HOW YOU MUR-“
Everything went into slow motion. Troy's fist was coming towards my face again.. the words nearly slipped off his tongue. “Murdered.” I tilted my head to the side ready to take what was coming.
I opened my eyes and the light coming into the window was shining so bright like God was trying to show me something..
I turned my head back and the sunlight led me to someone who became a hero. I squeezed my eyes shut again as Troy's fist got closer to my face. Troy’s voice stopped and he let out a loud grunt as a boy punched him in the stomach.
I heard shouting from afar, but I couldn’t make the words out in my head.
Andy’s words replayed in my mind.. “It was like God revealed her to me.” I looked over at the scene. “An angel.”