March 26th, 1985

"Stay still!"

"No! Get away!"

"Come on! Just one, please!"

Eddie struggled to escape Lorraine's grip, squirming as her hands wrapped around his waist tightly. Between giggles, she tried to snap another photo of him with the old polaroid camera she had found in her Dad's closet. Somewhat satisfied, she took the photo carefully as it slowly came out of the camera, waiting for it to develop.

While she stood there, Eddie looked at her, a silent smile growing on his lips. Her excitement grew as the photo slowly created shapes and bloomed with colors. Quickly, however, the excitement in her eyes faded as she pouted and turned the photo to Eddie with his arms raised, head turned and a hand almost covering the camera's lens.

"You can't even see your face." She whimpered, throwing her head back in defeat. Eddie quickly grabbed the camera from her hand, jumping back quickly with a grin on his face. Lorraine tried to react, but was too slow. He quickly snapped a photo of her, not even sure if she would show up on camera.

"Eddie, no!" She yelped, a laugh escaping her lips. As the photo came out, Eddie quickly took it in his hands and raised it high into the air. Lorraine jumped and waved her arms, trying to retrieve the, most likely, embarrassing photo. Eddie chuckled, pulling his hand back every time she lept for the photo.

"I'm sure you look fantastic." He smirked, lowering his head towards her face and scrunching his nose. Lowering his hand slightly, he allowed Lorraine to finally grab the photo, as she looked closely at it. Eddie peaked over her, seeing how the form of her face pretty close to the lens started to form. He could see the fine lines of her smile, her hair bouncing as she went for Eddie, shouting with a smile.

"It's horrible." She pouted once more, looking up at Eddie quickly. He could only stare deeply into her eyes, as he pursed his lips in a ghoulish matter. She laughed, shaking her head, pushing his shoulder.

Eddie quickly took her chin with his free hand, placing his lips on hers softly. They're smiles mixed together, breaking the kiss momentarily. Lorraine felt the flash of light against her closed eyes, opening them quickly and shooting her head up. There was the camera, spouting out the photo that Eddie had just taken.

"I think that one will do." He smiled, whispering, as he lowered the camera and grabbed the photo in his hand. He waited for the photo to develop, but it seemed to have been a faulty polaroid. The image stood there, white and blank. He furrowed his brows and shook it, angrily.

"God damnit, I wanted it to be a good one." He huffed, raising his eyes to Lorraine.

Her eyes were empty. Two dark holes filled its place. A thick ooze of blood dripped violently from the corners of her eyes, flowing down her cheeks, as other rivers of red began to fall from her mouth and nostrils. Eddie's breath was caught in his throat, his heart stopped in that exact moment. Lorraine motioned for her neck, like she was unable to breathe, or unable to scream.

"Eddie!" A raspy voice that sounded like Lorraine's echoed, it was as if she had screamed as hard as she could. Although she was right in front of her, her voice sounded soft and misplaced.

"Eddie, help me!" She screamed again, Eddie backing up into the wall as he was shocked. "Eddie, please!"

She began to rip the skin of her throat with her nails, like she was digging for a voice that wasn't there anymore. Eddie could only shake his head as he slammed himself against the wall, slowly sliding down to the floor.

Lorraine got closer, her skin almost falling off her bones as she kept screaming out his name. Her mouth wide open, slowly moving, but her words were fast paced and desperate. She was dying in front of him, and he couldn't do anything about it.

"Wake up, Eddie!" A softer voice escaped her lips. "Eddie! Wake up!"

Eddie's eyes widened as he got up, his skin covered in sweat, breathing heavily. Lorraine's hands were on his shoulders, a concerned look in her eye.

"Eddie," She whispered, "It was only a nightmare".

A drip of sweat fell from his brow as he finally had the guts to look her in the eye. It was her. Normal Lorraine. Living Lorraine. He gave a large sigh of relief as he pulled his face into his hands, rubbing away the sweat, rubbing his eyes trying to get the image of her like… that, out of his mind.

He wiped his lips with the back of his hand, giving her a forced smile. He unwrapped himself from the sheets, reaching out for Lorraine as he embraced her. It seemed she had just woken up, as well, her skin smelled like a dream as Eddie pressed his face into her neck.

"It was a horrible nightmare." He mumbled, squeezing her for a moment before pulling away to look at her, brushing the hair away from her face. She smiled, faintly, as she caressed his forearm with her fingertips. He sighed lightly, placing his fingers near hers, following the rhythm of her touch running and up and down his arm.

The door burst open as they both whipped their heads to see Robin, eyes wide and grinning. Her hand on the handle still, she motioned her other hand for them to come outside, eagerly waving it in the air.

"Guys!" She squicked, "We figured it out, come on!"


"We can't do that." Lorraine said, almost shouting as she crossed her arms and shook her head.

"It's the only way," Max spat at her.

"No." She frowned, looking at her, "Nope. Not gonna happen."

"Look, we need to hit him where it hurts." Nancy said, softly but with vigor. "When he's in his mind, just like El, that's the only window we have."

"But you can't seriously put her in danger!" Lorraine almost shouted at Nancy, motioning her hand to Max. "She's a fucking kid, Nancy!"

"Lorraine," Max said, grabbing her shoulder and trying to calm her down. Her fierce blue eyes looked her down, not in anger or fear, but determination. "He's after me anyway."

She bit her lip and shook her head once more, she couldn't understand how they could easily choose Max as bait for Vecna, even after knowing what had happened to the others - what almost happened to the poor girl. Her chest heaved with a deep sigh.

"Then I'm going with you."

"Hell no, Lor-'' Eddie stood up from the couch, but was cut off by a harsh hush that left her lips as she pointed to him.

"We still need weapons," Dustin said, ignoring the spat between Eddie and Lorraine. "And a bat with nails in it isn't gonna cut it."

"Well, Genius", Steve said sarcastically. "What else do ya' got up your sleeve?"

"There is a place called War Zone," Lorraine intervened. They all looked at her, brows furrowed as they tilted their heads in confusion. Eddie was the only exception, as he was chuckling as he let his head hang.

"I mean," She grabbed her arm with one hand, nervously as they looked her up and down. "My Dad took me as a kid. It's only a twenty or thirty minute drive from here."

"Well, we can't possibly do that on our bikes, no can we?" Dustin said ironically, pulling his arms back and raising his hands.

Lorraine tilted her head, trying to think. Her car was probably still at Skull Rock, but that was too far from her trailer. Eddie's van was completely missing, so that won't work either. She bit the inside of her cheek as she tapped her foot, as everyone was trying to think of something.

"Oh!"Eddie jumped up from the couch, excited. He clapped his hands as he jumped over Steve's legs.

"Watch it!" Steve said, annoyingly.

"Sorry, sorry," Eddie smiled, turning quickly and bowing in an apologetic manner. He turned again to Lorraine, a sinister grin on his face.

"Remember Mr. and Mrs. Bowman?"

"The couple that used to flick cigarette butts at us?" She questioned, as she shook her head in confusion and surprise. "What about them?"

Eddie leaned to her ear, whispering just a few words as her mouth flew open, laughing. She nodded and chuckled, agreeing that what he had said was the perfect idea.

"Hey, Red," He pouted his lips in a smile, "Pass me my bandana."

Max chucked his bandana towards him, catching it midair. He placed it around his face, covering it from the nose down.

"I can't believe we're gonna do this," Lorraine chuckled, running her hands through her hair.

"Gonna do what?" Robin asked, as everyone followed Eddie out the door. She frantically looked at everyone as they walked around her, quickly trying to get to the door. "What are we doing?!"

"Don't worry," Lorraine said, getting close to her and putting a hand on her back and leading her towards the door. "We've got this."

Lorraine closed the door softly, out of habit, as the others began to crouch and follow Eddie behind the other trailer homes. Her heart was pumping with adrenaline, smiling like an idiot at the thought of their little plan. She started to hop down the steps, when she heard a voice.

"Hey Lor," The deep voice said, making her stop in her tracks. "Where have ya been?"

"Dad," She said, softly, as he came closer to her, swinging his military bag behind him.

"I was… worried." He said, between grunts, "The whole town is going mad. Shame about, you know, Eddie. Don't believe what they're saying, not one bit. Kid wouldn't even hurt a fly."

He began to walk up the steps, passing Lorraine completely. She wasn't sure what to say, of course she couldn't tell him the truth. Her father opened the door but turned to look at her, one more time, a sad frown growing on his face. He turned completely, letting the door shut behind him as he placed the bag on the floor and crossed his arms.

"You okay, Lor?" He said, tilting his head. "I mean. I know we don't - talk, or whatever but I mean with everything - you know, Eddie and all."

"I- I'm fine, Dad." She said breathy, not believing that she was actually having this conversation with him.

He gave a deep sigh, nodding his head. "Okay, kid. Just be careful, got me? Might not be Eddie, but someone's killin' those poor kids."

Without really comprehending, or realizing she did it, she quickly got closer to him and wrapped her hands around him. Surprised, her father raised his hands from their folded position and raised his brows. She closed her eyes tightly and squeezed him, a soft smile on her lips. Although taken aback, he slowly let a hand rest on her head and another on her back.

"I'll be fine." She said into his chest. He sighed, giving a soft smile as he kissed her hair softly, finally returning the embrace. He nodded, caressing her head once more.

"I'll leave you some leftovers in the fridge," He said, breaking away from the hug as he gave her a small smile and a pat on her shoulder. She gleamed, chuckling, as she nodded in thanks.

She quickly turned away and began to go over to the group of kids hiding, as they waited for her. Turning her head once more, seeing her father watch as she walked off, giving a small wave. She turned on her heel and began jogging backwards, raising her hand high in the air as she waved him goodbye.

"Mrs. Bowman!" Lorraine shouted out to the couple that sat in front of their mobile home, watching some quiz show on the tiny television mounted on a plastic table. "Mr. Bowman!"

"Whatya' want?!" Mr. Bowman shouted back at Lorraine, taking a sip from the beer bottle in his hand. Once she was close to them, she leaned her hands on her knees, breathing erratically. She waved her hand at them, signaling that she needed a moment.

"The… he's… body… found…" She gasped between words, pulling herself straight and placing her hands on her hips. She huffed, sending her hair to the opposite direction of her face.

"Girl, what are you trying to say?" Mrs. Bowman said, scrunching her face into one of disgust, leaning on the edge of her seat.

"Guy.. serial killer. He- They found a body, right over there!" She said, swinging her finger to point at the other end of the trailer park. The couple stood up, slowly, squinting their eyes as they looked over to the horizon.

"Well, god damn it. Had to be here, huh hone?" Mr. Bowman said, taking the toothpick that was placed behind his ear and started to chew on it.

Lorraine slowly, and quietly began to step backwards, as they both spoke to one another asking silly questions and giving even more ridiculous answers. Suddenly, the mobile home that sat quietly behind them began to roar, the engine causing the car to spew a dark deep black cloud of smoke.

The couple quickly turned their heads, not completely understanding what was going on as they began to shout and bang on the door and windows of the mobile home. Lorraine chuckled, pleased that the distraction had worked perfectly, but soon lost her smile as she saw Mr. Bowman turn to face her, his face bulging red.

She chuckled nervously, shrugging her arms as she slowly backed away from him, before turning and beginning to run quickly down the dirt road. Her feet stomped the dirt harshly, she could feel the pebbles and bigger rocks stab her through her converse, her jean jacket whipping itself from one side to another as it got caught in the wind.

Without turning her head, she heard the mobile home getting closer as he rung a quiet stupid tone, almost like it was trying to honk in melody. She quickened her pace, hearing the couple running after them and shouting still. Once the mobile home was just a few feet ahead of her, she looked over into the windows, and began to wave her arms for the ones inside.

"Lorry, grab on!" The door swung open, Eddie hanging on to the sides of the door so as to not lose his balance whilst he stretched out his hand for her to grab. Lorraine held her breath, biting her tongue as she gave a few leaps, kicking herself off the ground as she jumped to grab Eddie's arm.

She clung to what she could on the outside of the mobile home, squeezing Eddie's arm in hopes she wouldn't fall back, the wind whipping her hair into all crazy directions. For a moment, her eyes met Eddie's, his hair, too, was waving around crazily. They both began to laugh and smile at each other, as Lorraine began to howl.

Eddie, smirking, mimicked her howl, before Dustin and Lucas grabbed both of them and pulled them into the moving vehicle, throwing them to the floor. Lorraine gasped for breath from the sprint she just finished, noticing that she was now on top of Eddie. His arms sprawled across the dirty green carpet and began to laugh hysterically, coming to a small chuckle as his eyes met hers.

"Munson," She giggled, tilting her head forward like a thief thanking a fellow conman.

"Wallace," He smiled, repeating the gesture

.***

A/N:
Sorry for late updates, I've had a *month* and wasn't doing very well. Updates will be consist again from now on.
Hope you're all safe and enjoying winter/summer wherever you are.
3
- m