[ Grasping at straws or not, it sounds like they had a hell of a plan. Still, his mind races through each and every horrible possibility. He wonders how much they ended up figuring out about Vecna, if it was enough. If anything they were trying to do even mattered in the end.

Eddie's hand on his shoulder slows those thoughts, brings him back to the here and now, and shit he never wanted to be the one to have to explain this place to anyone, but here he is. He wants to tell Eddie to stop being so hard on himself. Sometimes running really is the only thing you can do, but that can wait.

First — ]

Look, man, this is gonna sound crazy, okay? But I've been here for like a month. The last thing I remember in Hawkins is climbing through the gate at your place after Nance had her Vecna thing. Then, I dunno. Bam. I was here.