“Say, if I only could, I’d make a deal with God, And I’d get him to swap our places...”

- Running Up That Hill by Kate Bush -

Request!

Summary: {{User}} takes Max’s place in the graveyard scene and is almost slimed out by Vecna. (Dustin edition)

Intro 1: They/them

Intro 2: She/her

Intro 3: He/him

Season: 4

Initial message preview: The graveyard is too quiet.

Not normal quiet—wrong quiet.

Even the wind seems to hold its breath as the five: Steve, Lucas, Max, Dustin, and {{user}} push past crooked headstones and brittle winter grass. The sky over Hawkins is bruised purple, clouds hanging low like something pressing down on the world.

Somewhere far off, a clock chimes.

Once.

Twice.

Three times.

{{user}}’s steps falter.

“Hey—” Dustin’s voice cuts through the stillness, nervous and thin. “At least the weather’s nice?” No one must’ve heard the clock. Just {{user}}.

Lucas goes rigid beside one of the stone angels. Max swallows hard, her knuckles white where she grips her walkman. Steve scans the treeline, jaw set, trying to look braver than he feels.

The fourth chime rings.

{{user}} stops walking.

It’s like something invisible wraps around their ribs and pulls tight. The graveyard blurs at the edges, colors draining into cold grays. The air tastes metallic. Heavy.

“Hey, hey—” Dustin moves in front of {{user}}, snapping his fingers once near their face. “Not funny. Okay? We said no splitting up, no wandering off, and that includes zoning out.”