Will's P.O.V.

We were speeding along the outskirts of our town. Jonathan was at the wheel with barely contained panic in his eyes, continuously regarding the review mirriors for any who might have followed.

I am barely containing an outburst myself. Dustin, Lucas, and Mike were trying to make sense of what just happened but I'm just still in shock.

"Did you see how he vaporized their guns without a second thought?!" Dustin exclaimed.

"Vaporized is a strong word," Lucas remarked.

"You know what I mean man, and did you see how fast he was moving? It was wild!"

"Maybe he's a superhero like El," Lucas suggests.

"I don't know," Mike interjected, "I mean moving fast and stuff was never something El could do, and even though he was fast I don't remember seeing any tattoo on his arm like Eleven had."

"Good point," Dustin conceded, "but did you guys see his eyes?"

I had. I suspect I'll never forget. It's like he had rings of white fire around his pupils. In a different circumstance they might have looked benevolent, but when he was fighting they just looked like wrath incarnate.

"I know man!" Lucas confirmed. "They were crazy."

"I wonder if we'll see him again," Mike murmered. "I mean he was facing a lot of those guys."

They were all silent. The question hung in the air.

"Where are we going?" I heard Nancy ask Jonathan. I was a bit curious too.

"I don't know yet," he admitted.

Tell him to go to the quarry. Hopper and the others are heading there now.

My eyes widened. No one else appeared to have heard it and it had not been my own voice in my head just now. Seriously at this point what else could go wrong?

"Jonathan..." I called.

"Yeah Will?"

"Take us to the quarry."

"What? Why?" He appeared confused.

"Hopper will be there waiting for us." I say uncertainly.

He looks back with even more confusion. The others stare at me in shock.

"How do you know this Will?"

I meet his gaze, trying to look more confident than I really am.

"I just do. Trust me." I press. He pauses, then shrugs and says, "Good of place as any."

My friends give me nods to show they believe me and pride at their faith in me makes my heart swell.

I just hope Hopper and them are actually there.

Hopper's P.O.V.

Okay. Get Joyce Byers: check. Get the Wheelers: check. Drive to the quarry and wait for the kids at the behest of some voice in Joyce's head...check.

Well I suppose stranger things have happened.

Like that time we went to save Joyce's boy from that place that seemed to resemble Hell and our world at the same time.

Speaking if which where is that kid, along with all the rest of them for that matter?

As if on cue we heard an approaching vehicle and turned towards the noise. One of those black cars came into view prompting me to place one hand on ol'faithful. Everyone else took cover behind the truck.

The car stopped about twenty feet away. The door opened and I braced myself for...Jonathan. Relief flooded me as he raised a hand in greeting. I returned the gesture and let my hand fall to my side as I watched the rest of the youngins get out of the car.

The reunion was to be expected. The kids rushed over to meet their parents, the parents embraced them, etc. The two kids Dustin Henderson and Lucas Sinclair walked over to me asking if their parents were safe. Figuring, hoping more like, the same voice that protected us would probably have protected their parents too, I told them yes hoping I wasn't lying.

Then they told me everything that had happened with them. Everything from the school to the drive over here. I was speechless at first before my mind started going into overdrive trying to fit pieces of the puzzle together.

Some lowlifes had tried to kill them, discreetly, but someone had intervened and saved them. Who were the lowlifes? Who was the intervener?

As these thoughts rolled around my head I completely missed the faint crunching of leaves coming towards us.

"Chief," Mike warned, and I was suddenly aware, turning towards the direction the steps were coming from. They grew closer and closer until finally he emerged. Some brownish young man with hair that seemed to gravitate away from the earth. He wore an easy, wary and weirdly genuine looking smile on his face.

"That him?" I ask.

"Yep," Mike confirmed. "His eyes are different though. Normal."

"Right."

He stops ten feet away from us and holds out his hands in a gesture of goodwill.

"There is no need for that Sheriff Hopper." He says sootheningly. "For I only mean well for all of you as you can plainly see through my recent actions."

Not realizing my hand had gone back to ol'faithful I hesitantly let it fall back to my side. He nodded his thanks.

"Now then, I suspect you all have alot of questions but the long and short of it is that a higher government agency has deemed you all a liability to be cut loose. I come from another place that is both far and not so far away. I will not allow this to happen. A destiny has permitted me to anchor here and until it is fulfilled I will help with all I can."

There is a long pause. None of us know what to say to something like that.

After a few moments pass I ask the obvious.

"So what happens now?"

His expression grew thoughtful. "The best course of action seems like it would be to have you guys stay put at the nearby lodge. Only few know of it."

"What about everything else?" Joyce questions.

"All in good time." He says crypticly. "Hopper would you be so kind as to destroy the tracker on one of the cars? I'll see to the other one."

"Err, sure." I mutter figuring playing along is my best bet I walk over to the car. As I'm searching for the bug, questions are just running wild in my head. Like, for one, why is this happening, who's this guy, and can we really trust him?

But, I think to myself, does it really matter? Right now we have no choice but to follow him, or risk those government thugs catching up with us.

I find the bug and crush it beneath my boot. As I look up I see the stranger doing the same.

He nods respectfully to me then his smile returns.

"Now then," he seems oddly cheerful when he starts speaking this time, "how about we hide these vehicles in the trees and start trekking there?"

Mortifer's P.O.V.

I heard audible gasps when we entered the lodge. I smiled. I suppose it did look rather impressive for a building in the middle of the woods.

"Make yourselves at home. You'll be spending a little time here afterall."

Before I got past the 'home' part the younger ones had taken off, with their parents calling after them to be careful.

It did my heart good that even in such a grim situation they were still able to be kids.

I turned back at the adults. "Okay, Ted, Karen find a bedroom to lay claim to, same with you two, Hopper, Joyce..."

Hopper coughed and Joyce seemed to turn a bit red. "Um..." Hopper almost stuttered. "We aren't together."

Oh! The body language between them implied as much. But God knows I've been mistaken before. I was quick to remedy the situation.

"My apologies. Honest mistake. Please do find rooms of your own then. We will talk soon after."

They both seemed like they wanted to say something else but after a moment they shrugged, looked at each other, and went to go exactly that.

I directed my attention to the two remaining teenagers. Raising an eyebrow I began. "I may have been mistaken with the Chief and Ms. Byers but with you two I am certain. You may find your own rooms or share one. I have no illusions you would not seek to do so anyway if I sought to prevent it." With a smirk I turned my back on their surprised, also embarrassed, faces and began walking to the outside porch to collect my thoughts.

Nancy's P.O.V.

My face still flushed I looked over at Jonathan, who was looking down trying to cover the redness in his face too.

"Um..." I tried, not knowing what to say next.

"I'll just go find my room and leave you to it." He says awkwardly. I try to ignore the disappointment in my chest.

He gets halfway down the hall before I muster up my courage.

"Jonathan?" I call out.

"Yeah Nancy?" He replies turning around.

I bite my lip. My mouth feels dry. Come on Nancy. Just say it.

"I'll probably end up calling you over anyway like I already have before," I say quietly still feeling heat in my cheeks.

When I have had nightmares about that place and that...thing from time to time again in the past I found myself calling him for comfort in the middle of the night. More than once.

"Might as well cut out the middle man right?" I manage to get out.

He just stares at me for a solid four long seconds. Thankingly before I start to fully panic, and take back everything I said he smiles.

"Yeah. Sure Nancy." He says looking as red as I must be.

I smile back playfully. "Well lead the way Jonathan Byers." I urge him. His smile grows as he turns on his heel and starts walking.

I follow behind him quickly as we go to find our room.

Mortifer's P.O.V.

I inhaled the good outside air. You know, the kind of air you only get when surrounded by trees.

Now then...the Hendersons and Sinclairs should be arriving within the hour per my guidance. They were actually remarkably easy to direct since, for some reason, they seemed to instantly know of my good will towards them. Most odd, but I'll take a break where I can get one. As for the government types...I'll see to them in due time.

As if on cue the parents' aforementioned children approached me from behind. They stood there a moment, the two of them, hesitant to disturb me. It would not have bothered me but nonetheless I decide to wait for them to speak.

The curly haired one spoke first. Dustin? Yes, it was Dustin. The other would be Lucas then.

"Excuse me sir." He managed.

I smiled and turned to greet them. "Hello Dustin. Lucas. What can I do for you two?"

He looked anxious now. "Um, um we were wondering if you got ahold of our parents too." Lucas nodded to affirm his friend's question.

"Of course!" I smile wider when I see their visible relief. "They should be here within the hour."

"Thanks mister." Lucas says with a grin.

"Not a problem." I reply. "But could you do me a favor and fetch everyone else? I believe it's about that time."

"You got it sir!"

"Sure thing mister!"

They dart off, presumably to gather everyone. I look back at the trees and sigh.

Here we go then. Time to figure this out.

Right before I went to walk back inside I suddenly felt weak and a little faint. Ugh...I guess maintaining my other half was taking a toll on me. At least it wasn't actively fighting right now. Still, it would only grow more difficult the longer I had to maintain it. Once I was united to it again though everything would change.

But until then, I would make do.

Straightening myself I finally made my way back inside...

...Only to be greeted by everyone staring at me. My smile returned reflexively.

"Now then. I need to know all of what you guys know so that I can figure out where to get started here."

Eleven's P.O.V.

I woke up to the smell of...more food?! What? For a second I had to remember where I was and who I was with.

"Morty?" I called out. Already beginning to fear I was alone again.

"Here El." I turned to see him standing outside again, but still within sight. "Be sure to eat up. You have much strength you need to recover."

He didn't have to tell me twice. Just like that again I was eating as though it had been days since my last meal. A couple questions strike me.

"Morty, what is this?" I ask holding up one of the strips of meat.

He turned and grinned at the sight of it. "Now that is called bacon. Do you like it?"

I nod vigorously.

"I'll be sure to get more next time." I smile widely at this. But it does bring up my second question.

"How?"

He cocks his head to the side for a moment before he answers.

"You know how this is one dimension right?" I nod. "Well with my power I am able to reach across dimensions for my own purposes. Like getting you food."

"Mike?" I say excitedly.

He seems to understand but sadly shakes his head.

"I do not know little one," he says, and I feel disappointment crushing my excitement before. "I will need to be certain of something first." I just stare at him in question.

"I need to know all you know." He states simply.

I start to despair a little. I was never very good with words. How would I explain, as he says, all that I know? The thought of not being able to see Mike and the others just because of this starts to make my eyes water a little

He is at my side in a moment, almost scaring me, placing a reassuring hand on my shoulder.

"There is no need to be sad little one." He consoles. "You do not have to tell me, I just have to see."

I look at him with my usual confused expression.

"Another perk of my power." He clarifies. "But I need your permission." He holds a hand over my head.

Whatever it is, if it helps get me back then fine. I nod hesitantly and he places the hand on my head.

Suddenly I feel everything fall away. Blackness surrounds me but strangly I'm not afraid. Then everything changes again and I am seeing through my eyes back to the bad place. I can feel him, Morty, also there with me.

I know I should feel terrified right now but I feel nothing. Somehow I know he is actually the one feeling and experiencing all of what I felt back then and I'm actually the one just watching.

It's...so weird.

After awhile we get out of the bad place, away from Papa, and it shows my friends finding me. Things start to move faster after that but I can tell he sees everything.

It shows Mike putting make up on me. I wonder if he's knows how hard my heart was pounding having Mike's face so close to mine.

He sees our searching for Will, and my sabotaging the compasses.

My time spent alone in the woods after.

Our reunion after my saving Mike.

Mike cleaning my face, again with heart pounding.

Me flipping over the van.

The pool.

Mike's lips touching mine.

The bad men.

The demogorgen.

The goodbye.

I wonder if he can hear what my thoughts are in that moment. For I had so very many but only had time for those last two words.

Goodbye Mike.

He sees me fighting the demogorgen for the right to exist in the inbetween and my coming back together in the Upside-down.

He sees my surviving from a box that Hopper had set up for me, and then he is caught up.

Everything goes black again for a moment and then my vision returns to see him removing his hands from my head and shoulder with tears flowing from his eyes.

"I'm so sorry El." He whispers. It sounds strange with his powerful voice.

Still in the strange unfeeling mode I ask calmly, "Why?"

"You did not deserve any of those terrible things that were done to you. Those people failed in their most elementary task, and they will have justice wrought upon them one day." He voice grew angry there at the end causing me to tense up as I felt the air become electric. It quickly died away though and I could feel myself return to normal. So many thoughts and questions ran through my head again. I held back tears as the memories of that place and my friends intermingled. So now can he help me? Now can he get me to Mike and the others?

Now would I be able to keep my promise?

"Morty..." I say.

He looks at me, more composed now, steady. Like before. His head inclined.

"Mike?" I ask hopefully.

He hesitates. For more than a few moments. He understood the question I implied, that was certain, but seemed to be trying to phrase his answer.

"I cannot." He finally spoke.

My heart sank. Confusion and sadness soared through me again.

"It is against the rules for me to interfere with something like that." He says before I can ask him why. "When it comes to reuniting you and him only a few people will be able to contribute. At least contribute in a major way that is."

Still confused but a with a bit of hope rising back up within me I ask him the obvious.

"Who?"

"You, Mike and the boy you rescued, Will."

"How?"

"They will come for you. You will have to be ready. But don't be afraid. I will help you get prepared if you want."

I nod, still reeling from the idea of my friends coming to get me. Them doing so, coming here no less, just for me, creates a warm feeling inside my chest. This must be a kind of happiness I think to myself as I smile.

"Morty what are rules?" I ask suddenly.

He seems to consider this for a moment before explaining.

"You know what promises are yes?" I nod. "Good, well promises you don't break. Rules are similar. The difference is you can obey them for any number of reasons. Sometimes you can bend them, and sometimes, though very rarely, you can break them." He finished.

Rules. They sounded odd to me. But maybe they won't seem as strange later down the line. I notice my winged friend seems lost in thought again. I give him a couple moments to gather himself.

"They found you in the woods outside the lab." He states. "That is where they will come for you. We should head there now." He rises and walks outside to the railing. I follow him wondering how we'll get there anytime soon. I don't even know where it is from here.

As if he read my mind he turns to me and gently says, "El, we can be there within the hour if we fly. But...that means you'll have to trust me."

I stare at him with wide eyes. I had never flown before. I'm pretty sure most people haven't since I've seen no one else with wings. Fear grips me at the thought. But I had to keep my promise, so I mustered the courage my friends had inspired in me and nodded.

He picks me up carefully, holding me the same way Mike and Dustin had and steps onto the railing. Terror suddenly grips me but before I say anything he leans forwards and we both fall off the railing.

I'm pretty sure all the Upside-down could hear my scream.