When they made it to the middle school, Mike helped Elle off the platform and Enigma jumped off of it, absorbing it in the process and reverting his eyes back to normal. He tussled Mike's hair while he rubbed Elle's head and put his hands around their shoulders, smiling down at them as they walked into the school. They found everyone else in the gymnasium, making a makeshift sensory depravation bath. Hopper was pouring bag after bag of rock salt until Dustin determined if it was enough by testing its density with an egg. Nancy saw the three walk in, smiling when she saw Elle and Mike hand in hand, happy for them. The detective then brought Elle aside with Mike, who sat next to her holding her hand still.
"Elle," Mike began, "we'll be with you the entire time you're looking for Will and whoever else is in that place." he said, stroking his hand.
"If you ever get scared, never be afraid to call for help from any of us. Like your boyfriend said," Mike glared at and shoved him, blushing a little, "we'll be right next to you."
"And we won't go anywhere."
"Exactly. In fact," the detective cupped his hands together and closed his eyes, and soon there was light shining out of the cracks. When he felt he was finished, he opened his hands to reveal a small artificial golden star the size of a small stone that floated in his hands. It was so bright, it practically outshined the lights in the gymnasium. He then said, "Take this with you into the bath. It will light your way in the darkness." He gave her the star and as she took it, it shrunk down to the size of a pebble. It felt warm, but not hot. She closed her hand around it and hugged the detective.
"Thank you, dad. Thank you, Mike." she said quietly. The detective hugged her. She then kissed Mike's cheek and hugged him, who kissed and hugged back. The detective pulled a towel out from his inner coat pocket as Mike took her jacket off.
"Ready?" Mike asked. She nodded as he then lead her by the hand to the bath with the detective following with the towel and jacket.
"Hey Elle?" Nancy asked, Elle turning toward her. "If you can, can you also try and find Barb, please?" Elle nodded as Dustin gave her duct taped goggles which he helped put on her. Joyce and Nancy helped her into the bath, and they all watched as she floated there, immersing into what Dustin called "the mindscape."