Chapter Text
Steve watched as Barb washed her hand in his sink before handing over some gauze. She gave him a look before sighing and taking it from him. He stuffed his hands in his pockets as he backed away.
“Do you need anything else? Something to eat? A… drink that’s not alcoholic?”
She huffed in annoyance. “No. You can leave me alone.”
He raised his hands in surrender and left the restroom. When he returned to the pool, he was dragged into a game of tackle where he threw Nancy and himself into the warm water. His clothes were quickly soaked and he was laughing with his friends and girlfriend.
Nancy’s smile was beautiful and her laugh made him smile too.
But he couldn’t help but think of how miserable Barb looked. The only one who wasn’t having fun. It drew away from the fun that he was supposed to be having with his friends and girlfriend. So it led him to be the rational person and direct everyone back into the house to get dry.
“I have some dry clothes you can borrow, Nance. Just up in my bedroom.”
His girlfriend smiled and started to go up the stairs with him when Barb came out from the bathroom with a properly bandaged hand.
“Nancy. Where are you going?”
“Oh— Steve’s giving me a change of clothing. Just up in his bedroom.”
Barb looked so lost and it didn’t help that Nancy kept speaking.
“You can go home.”
“Wh-what about you?”
“Just go, Barb.”
Steve wasn’t sure what to do but followed Nancy up the stairs and led her to his bedroom. He pulled out some clothes while she finished drying her hair with the towel.
“Here you go.”
She gratefully took the shirt and sweatpants from him. Something outside caught his eye, which turned out to be Barb sitting on the diving board. Confused, he started to head back down.
“Steve? Where are you going?”
He turned to see Nancy about to take her shirt off. Part of him was tempted to stay and possibly see more, but the kinder part of his heart couldn’t leave Barb unattended. He flashed her a reassuring smile that he knew would persuade her.
“I’m going to check on something. Just change out of that wet clothing.”
He left her to change without another word. When he returned to the back door, he peeked his head out and saw Barb still sitting on the diving board so he went out and grabbed an extra towel, flipping it onto his shoulder.
“Hey.”
She huffed before glaring at him. “What do you want.”
“Nothing, I… I was just wondering why you haven’t left for home yet. I mean— you’re not having fun so… why stay?”
“Don’t you know?”
He shook his head. “I think you and Nancy should go home. Look. She’s had a drink or two, you’re injured, and I believe that Nancy told her parents a lie to come here and has a curfew.”
When she looked surprised, he laughed. “I know I’m not the smartest but I know the type. You two go.”
Her eyes searched him, as if trying to find the lie. She must not have found what wasn’t there since she got up and walked back to dry ground with a sigh.
With a final glare, she said, “You’re an idiot, Harrington. But… maybe you’re not completely hopeless.”
Smirking with a shrug and a laugh, he said, “I try not to disappoint.”
Barb disappeared into the house. So he now took the time to clean up the mess left behind. Beer cans and bottles were piled on a table and the towel used to clean up any puddles. Unfortunately, he missed the glass from a bottle that Tommy broke and stepped on it.
“Shit!”
He hobbled over to a chair to inspect his foot. Thankfully, the scratches weren’t too bad and he’d only need a few days on the bench for basketball. He pressed the towel to absorb some of the blood that leaked out.
The lights flickered, making him look towards the shed until a shadow crept up from behind. He looked up and froze in confused terror at the creature looming above. Its face opened and didn’t give him enough time to scream before it all went dark.
—
When he opened his eyes, he wasn’t sure where he was at. There were vines surrounding him and the air felt suffocating. Like it was trying to strangle him. Actually, there was a slimy substance that he was coughing out, so that’s probably what was choking him. When he stood up, he looked around and noticed that he stood inside a bowl covered in vines. Then he saw the familiar backside of his house, which was covered in the same vines that draped the bowl. Then he realized that he was in his pool .
How did he get here? What happened to his home?
“He-hello?”
His voice echoed out— leaving him feeling completely and utterly alone. As he turned around to take in his surroundings a little more, that’s when he saw it.
The monster without a face.
A dark chitter rose from its throat, making the weird flaps vibrate on its head.
His legs shook as he started backing away, right foot burning from the fresh cuts. His eyes searched for a way out and landed on the short ladder at the top of the pool. Wasting no time, he ran and started to climb.
Something wrapped around his ankle and pulled so hard that Steve thought his foot was going to break. He cried out, hoping to get someone’s attention from his horribly warped home.
“Nancy! Tommy! Help!”
It pulled again. His grip was starting to slip off the metal ladder. Something was tearing into his skin.
Maybe Barb can hear. She was just there.
“Barb! Barb?! Are you there?!”
Whatever had him pulled again and only by the tips of his finger was he able to not be dragged under.
“Someone! HELP ME!”
Then he was gone.