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The cold of the tiles on the bathroom's floor and the sour taste of bile on her mouth woke Kagome up. She licked her dry lips and blinked a couple times before finding the strength to assess her surroundings. Her head hurt from hitting the floor and there was a remaining strain on her muscles. She wrinkled her nose at the smell of puke and dried sweat. The light coming from the window stated that many hours have passed.
Kagome took a warm bath, using the water to relax her mind and limbs. There was still a lingering malicious aura, although now it was barely perceptible. She could feel it but not locate it no matter how much she concentrated. Eventually, she gave up and got dressed.
It was late in the morning when she turned on the TV. The breaking news was that someone had been murdered the night before. The details given were vague, only that it happened at Forest Hills Trailer Park and that it was a female student from Hawkins High School. A name popped in her mind: Chrissy. Then last night's memories came back and dread filled her.
Kagome mentally cursed. She remembered seeing Eddie sneaking out to his van with Chrissy not far behind. They were careful about not being seen together, but the dreading aura surrounding the cheerleader was impossible to overlook. She didn't think much of it, though, it wasn't her business. However, now it got her thinking. If something happened to Chrissy, was Eddie safe? They only mentioned one victim, so he must be missing or running away - which didn't help his situation because he would be the first suspect.
As much as she trusted her guts that he wasn't capable of mauling someone, Kagome would only be sure when talking to him. She assumed - and believed - in his innocence, but there was always the possibility she was being naive.
The priestess stood on the border of the forest, closed her eyes and concentrated. She expanded her ki the farthest she could, reaching the Trailer Park and Downtown. She found Jeff and Gareth; a group of people near she didn't recognize - which she assumed was where Chrissy died and the unknown people where journalists; people coming and going from their appointments, but no Eddie. She huffed. She didn't know him enough to guess where he could be hiding. However, she knew someone who could help.
Kagome found Dustin inside Family Video with Max Mayfield, Steve Harrington and Robin Buckley. She rushed through the door in time to listen to Dustin complaining that Steve wasn't helping enough to find Eddie.
"You don't know where he is!?" The words left Kagome's mouth before she could think properly.
"Kagome! What are you doing here? Oh, and these are Steve, Robin and Max."
Kagome smiled and gave them a short bow. Steve frowned, Robin waved lightly and Max just stared at her. "I was hoping you would know where Eddie is."
"Why do you want to know?" Dustin's instance got defensive.
She walked to the balcony and signaled them to get closer. "I'm worried. Something happened last night," Kagome whispered. They nodded. "And everyone will assume it was him just because he's different, you know? But he's not a bad person, I know he wouldn't hurt a fly."
"See? Kagome has known him for a day and already agrees with me."
"How do you know it wasn't him?" asked Steve to Kagome.
"My instincts said so." Steve rolled his eyes.
"And we are supposed to blindly trust your instincts?"
"No, but you should trust Dustin. Aren't you friends?" Dustin looked at Steve with puppy eyes.
"How can you doubt such a cute face?" pleaded Dustin.
Steve bit his inner cheek. "Whatever. It's not as if we know how to find him anyway."
"Maybe we do!" Robin blurted out. "Max said he stays at Reefer Rick's house sometimes, right? If this Rick has ever rented a movie here, his address will be in the system." After some guessing game, they found the most possible match, Rick Lipton, who lived near Lover's Lake.
The ride to the middle of nowhere took some time, and they arrived in the evening. The house had no lights on, and no one answered when ringing the bell or calling Eddie's name. The flashlights through the windows also didn't detect any life signs. Dustin kept slamming the door and calling for Eddie, Rick or anyone who would answer.
They gave up on Rick's home and moved to the dock house, where a lamp was turned on above the door. Inside, it was dark, and nothing could be seen through the holes in the walls. Robin cracked the door open, talking out loud to alert anyone who could be inside of their presence. Only silence answered.
In the middle of the room, there was a boat with a tarp inside. With an oar, Steve jabbed whatever was hiding under the tarp a few times. Max located some food packages and candy wraps over a table.
Meanwhile, Kagome's headache had returned. She knew Eddie was around, but in her state she could barely stand, much less talk. Hidden under the darkness of the shack, Kagome sat on the floor as her body grew heavy. Drops of sweat rolled down her back and chest. She closed her eyes for a moment and jumped to her feet when screams filled the room.
Eddie had pressed Steve against the wall, a broken bottle held too close to his throat. Dustin shouted Eddie's name, begging him to stop and claiming their friendship. Steve let go of the oar. Eddie turned, the sharp edge still on Steve's neck, and assessed the newcomers.
"We're here to help," declared Robin.
"We are friends. There's Kagome; you remember her, right? From yesterday? Cool. That's Steve, this is Robin, from the band, and Max, that friend that never wants to play D&D." They smiled and waved as Dustin listed their names. "I swear on my mother that we are on your side."
Eddie finally released Steve, who ducked away in a blink. Dustin gave him time to recompose before asking for his version of the events. What impressed Kagome was that the others just listened, unfazed, as Eddie described how Chrissy's bones snapped and her eyes exploded inside their holes.
Eddie's voice cracked as he recalled the previous night. Tears pooled in his eyes. His face contorted as the memories of Chrissy's gruesome death resurfaced. Kagome, ignoring her distress and the audience, hugged Eddie.
"It's not your fault," she whispered in his ear. "There was nothing you could have done. I'm glad you're safe."
Eddie stayed motionless for a moment. His held his breath before hugging her back. He weeped on her shoulder. No words were exchanged until he murmured his gratitude.
"We believe in you." The others said. Eddie scoffed. Kagome took his hand on hers and squeezed it.
"Look, Eddie, and Kagome, since you are involved now." Kagome frowned and mouthed 'me?'. "I know it will sound crazy, but hear me out. Hawkins is kinda cursed. You know the tragedies that plagued the city in the past few years?" The duo nodded. "They aren't just a morbid coincidence. There's another world packed with monsters that we thought to be gone."
"But if they are back, we must know," said Max.
"Did you see anything? Dark particles, like dust?
"No. I haven't seen anything, only Chrissy- Hey, you okay?" Kagome's body trembled. Her hand squeezed his. "Kagome?"
"Do you think it's happening again?" said Max.
"The lights are normal," answered Dustin.
"What did you say? She's mumbling something," said Eddie. "I can't understand you, babe."
A shocking wave passed through Kagome. She snapped her eyes open, let go of Eddie and ran, barely crossing the door before she spilled her stomach's content. Robin hurried after her and held back her hair as she puked.
Several minutes passed in silence as the group waited for Kagome to recover. The pain rescinded as the evil energy disappeared from her senses. With Robin and Max's aid, she came back to the house and sat on a pile of boxes. Steve handed her a tissue.
"I think…" said Kagome between breaths, "someone else died."
"What the fuck?! How do you know?!" Shouted Dustin.
"Last night, I felt energy just like now. I wasn't prepared for something so malicious. It was overwhelming with murderous intent. I remember someone calling Chrissy's name and a lot of fear. Then everything was black and I woke up with the sun already up. When I saw the news, I put the pieces together. I knew it wasn't Eddie, but I had no doubt he would be the first suspect. Then I found you and we found him. This time, however…" Kagome's eyes watered, "no one called for this guy. He was so scared…" Tears ran down her cheeks. "I don't know his name, but I remember him from school. Fair skin, glasses, a scar on his face."
"That's Fred Benson! I've had some classes with him before. Nerdy, always after Nancy," said Robin.
"Anyone knows where he lives?" Asked Steve. "No one?"
"Maybe Nancy knows. I think they work together," suggested Max.
"What are we waiting for? Let's go."
"What about me?" asked Eddie.
"You're coming with me," said Kagome.
"But the police are probably looking for him! He should be hiding!" said Steve.
"That's why we are giving him an alibi. If anyone asks, he was with me last night," proclaimed Kagome. "And we spent the whole night together." Eddie's cheeks colored.
"And the cops will just believe you?"
"Yes, because Dustin saw us going home together after the game."
'I did?" asked Dustin. Kagome nodded.
"And what was Chrissy doing at Eddie's place then?" asked Max.
"Who knows? That's the sheriff's job to find out."