It's steel against steel as Billy recounts the murders he was forced to do, and Max clenches her jaw, tightly. Her hands ball up into fists and she doesn't falter.

"You're right. You're a bully. And an abusive asshole!" her own voice rises, agitated all over again with the rising of his voice.

"And a shitty brother! I'm not delusional about you." Which means when she said that, she knew what she was talking about, but of course, he's not listening. That's not unusual, at least.

Max manages to calm down when she continues with, "You are trying, and learning. And yeah. Your hands killed those people. You will likely be left with those memories forever." She closes her eyes and realizes she can only suspect the weight of that guilt, how crushing it is. That kind of scar, she can't help with.

Her eyes open again. "But it wasn't you. You didn't do any of it willingly. You were forced to. You were being controlled." Breathe in. Fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck. She feels she's just adding to the trauma, and she doesn't want to, but it's the truth. Billy had wanted the truth, right?

"Didn't anyone tell you about Vecna?" Once that name leaves her mouth, Max knows, there's no turning back.