teenage tragedy (Max Mayfield)

4. seventeen

"Shit, okay," Robin whispered.

Steve put his torch in his mouth, carefully starting to hop between the vines covering the floor. Cammie waited a few seconds before starting to hop after him, watching Steve wobble. She quickly jumped beside him into a gap, steadying him with her cold hand.

"You got this. You're okay," Cammie said.

Steve nodded, squeezing her hand before hopping towards the stairs. Cammie looked over her shoulder, seeing Robin and Nancy starting to follow. Cammie turned back around, following Steve towards the stairs.

"How are you feeling, Cam?" Nancy whispered.

"I think the adrenaline is kicking in," Cammie whispered back. "But let's not waste any time. Gotta save Max before he kills her and opens the gates," she said.

"What she said," Steve nodded, starting to creep up the stairs on his tip toes.

Cammie followed, wobbling slightly as she landed a little too close to the end of the step she was on. She quickly jumped up to the next one, biting her bottom lip as she looked up. More vines were everywhere above them and her stomach turned.

"Oh, fuck. Oh, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck," Cammie whispered, freezing where she was.

Now was not the time to freak out, but now was the time Cammie's brain decided her adrenaline had done the bare minimum and her anxiety could take over.

This was the same house as the one in her nightmares. As soon as she got up into that attic, Vecna would be waiting for her and he would snap her throat or gouge her eyes out or rip her into a million pieces.

He was going to kill her.

"Hey, Cam, what is it?" Steve said, looking over his shoulder at her.

"Did you touch one?" Robin said, stood two steps below Cammie.

"No," Cammie shook her head, her hands coming up to rest on her head. "I just realised... He's really going to be up there, isn't he?" Cammie said.

The others nodded.

"But it's gonna be okay. You're not alone like you are in your nightmares. We're here, this time," Robin said, putting her hand on Cammie's shoulder.

Cammie nodded, though she still didn't move.

"Robin, you keep going. Cam and I are right behind you," Nancy said.

Robin and Steve looked at Nancy, who nodded to tell them to move.

"You heard me," Nancy said.

"This whole attitude is totally working for my little sapphic self. She's teasing me with my mommy issues," Robin muttered to Cammie, who barely held back a laugh.

"I know, right? Nancy and a gun blew my mind the first time I saw it. Hot, with a capital H," Cammie whispered back, making Robin laugh again.

"Ladies, this bonding is brilliant but let's move, please," Steve said.

Robin rolled her eyes fondly, sidestepping Cammie as she moved to follow Steve further up the stairs. Nancy stepped up behind Cammie, grabbing her hand.

"I've got you. I'm going to be with you the whole time. I know I'm not Max, but I'm here for you. Whatever happens in there, you're always going to have me," Nancy whispered.

Cammie squeezed her hand, nodding.

"Okay. I'm okay," Cammie whispered.

"You're okay," Nancy whispered back.