AN: This is the second to last chapter.
May 4th, 1987, Monday after nine o'clock
Oliver knew that Dustin was a Remnant and he also knew that Hannah didn't get involved with just anyone and so he should be good. Not to mention that his spiritism vision made it clear that Dustin meant no harm. It didn't hurt to hear what he had to say and at that moment they needed a television and a VCR to watch the tape.
Max and Lucas were sitting in the car discussing whether they were trapped, even if they needed to support Dustin. They agreed that they had been kind of unfair to him in the past. Not that falling in love was a mistake, because it wasn't something they could control, but they thought they should have talked to him before they actually became official. They wanted Dustin to know that he hadn't just been pushed aside.
This time, Oliver sat in the front and Max in Will's lap. It wasn't in Mike's lap because otherwise El was going to cause an Apocalypse and it wasn't in Dustin's because it would be really weird, even though Lucas was less jealous now that he had a girlfriend.
Oliver's house was cozy. When they weren't in the woods, he received friends there. It had a very Hippie style - Dustin counted about five posters written 'Make Love Not War'. The house was full of herbs too, which they knew very well for what Oliver used, but since he was a good friend they didn't say anything.
"Ouch!" Oliver said while watching the tape. "Now I know why you're limping like that. Why did you do that? You stayed there as bait for the traitors!"
Dustin then explained their entire plan. How they were bullied by the boy who had taken Hannah and she had agreed to help them deal with it, but they didn't expect Troy to be an ally of Alaric and that they planned to overthrow Vikram.
"I'll show this to Vikram, cutting the parts that you and Hannah make out of course," Oliver smiled playfully and Dustin blushed. The moment Hannah came up to him and said 'friend', Oliver knew very well that he would be more than that. "Me and Hannah, and the entire Peace & Weed circle, we would be considered traitors for talking to you, so the story goes like this: You "He meant Dustin, "doubted that Troy was up to something and followed him here. You met Hannah who tried to kick you out, but you managed to explain to her what was going on. You came to me and we set up that plan to find out what's happening, but it went a little wrong. At least we know what Alaric is doing. Did you understand?" They nodded. "If the story does not coincide on all sides, we will have problems. Now, take me to Vikram."
Getting into the crowded part of the city wasn't easy as they attracted all eyes to them. After all, they were five remnants in a car with just one darker.
Vikram was where he always stayed at night, he hardly changed the place. It was a bar that only opened at night. The painting was a little darker than Morbid Soul and was called King of Devil. The boys swallowed, but Oliver insisted.
"We have a very important matter to discuss with Mr. Parks!" Normally, Heath would normally deny, but that bunch of remnants worried him, mostly for their funeral expressions. "It's about Miss Hannah," Of course, that couldn't be ignored.
They were escorted to the table where Vikram always stayed and luckily it was the beginning of the night so he wasn't drunk yet. Having fun as always, he was telling those around him the time he fought a crocodile in Maine.
"Mr. Parks, these young people want to talk to you about your daughter."
Vikram nodded and asked those around him to leave. It was too easy. It wasn't possible.
Oliver, whom Vikram knew very well, after all it was a relatively small neighborhood, explained everything that had happened and on a television in the bar he could watch his daughter being taken away
"Alaric, Alaric...," he said with a deep sigh. "I've always known, but... seeing it with my own eyes is... disappointing."
Dustin was analyzing Vikram and couldn't believe what he was witnessing. In fact, his appearance was frightening, more than six feet, completely worked out, bad guy face... But when he spoke he seemed to be very nice. It wasn't even that scary.
"Sir," Oliver said, "we found out that he and these remnants are planning to take you place. The Remnants help them so then they are feared in Hawkins too."
Vikram smiled and everyone looked at each other not understanding.
"These remnants are nothing," And for a moment Dustin was almost offended. "Alaric is using these boys. When he takes the lead, he will infiltrate int the rest of the town through those boys, and then make a mess!"
"Are you saying he wants to bring us all together?" Heath asked as if it were a crime.
Vikram nodded.
"But not for good, for evil. You know," Vikram took his eyes off the television turning to speak to all, "I never liked this division. I know that even before I was born there were many injustices on our side, but I don't think that becoming a gang is the solution. Putting this fear on the people of the outside as if we were delinquents, criminals... We were once, but that's over. The only thing we are is relaxed. Obviously during the night we have fun without thinking about the consequences of the next day. And I've been taking it easy on remnants, for example, I didn't object when you" He referred to Dustin, "walked around during the day or when you walked around town with my daughter, much less when you spent the night with her at my house," Dustin blushed. He knew all along that they were having an affair. He hoped he liked him. His friends stared at him in amazement, not believing that Dustin had slept with Hannah. "We don't need to like each other, but we have to learn to live together. What happened fifty years ago is nobody's fault today. When I told Alaric, he didn't like it, because he thinks we have to hate remnants for the rest of our lives," He sat down again and took a sip of his beer. "I knew he was up to something. He wants not only to continue the fight, but also to make it worse. I imagined because of some of his conversations, but I didn't think it would go that far. Now they will use my daughter in order to make me surrender! "
They were quiet. For so long they feared so much Rotten Eggs to find out that their leader was actually trying to keep the peace. He was trying to make the remnants look good. Maybe they weren't that bad.
Vikram put his hand on his chin thoughtfully for a few minutes and no one even dared to move. He sighed and finally said:
"Check if they're still in that house. We will surround the place."
"Yes, sir," Heath said, withdrawing.
"Thank you, boys," he said it to everyone who was there. "Can I talk to Dustin alone, please?"
Dustin's eyes widened, more because he didn't know how Vikram knew his name than because he wanted to talk to him alone.
"So, Dustin...," he said after they all left, giving some encouragement pats on Dustin's back.
"S-sir," He was shaking a little.
"What do you have with my daughter?" Straight to the point, Dustin thought.
"O-oh..."
"Son," He stood up and put his hand on Dustin's shoulder, "relax. I'm not mad, I'm just curious. I know it seems like we don't care about our kids here, but I care a lot about Hannah. She has been hiding from me since her mother died, but I always try to know what happens to her."
"Her mother died?" Dustin couldn't hold the question. In fact, she had only talked about her father, but since he was always so focused on doing nothing stupid, he had never connected the dots.
"Yes. Cancer in the womb," Vikram decided to explain better. He thought that boy was a good match for Hannah. He was adorable and not at all a delinquent. He really thought Hannah needed someone like that. "After Wendy died, she decided to dress that way and get away from everyone, saying that nobody wanted to be friends with her, because I am the boss. I verified that and they really are a little scared, but... she also doesn't give anyone a chance."
"Poor Hannah..." Hannah's situation was worse than he imagined. He had also lost someone he loved. I mean, his father hadn't died, but he had left him and he missed him a lot, but he tried not to think about it, because if he had the courage to leave his family, it means that he didn't love them that much.
"So, Dustin... what do you have with my daughter?"
"S-she says we're dating, and I really want it if you allow it! I like her very much!" It was difficult to say that, but it was now or never.
"You're a good guy, Dustin. I think Hannah can be happy with you, but if you hurt her, you know!" Vikram realized how his daughter and that boy looked at each other in the video and how Dustin was worried about her. How he tried to chase and save her, but it was just impossible. He saw the determination in his eyes to get her back. He thought that after everything Hannah went through, a nerdy boyfriend wouldn't hurt.
He swallowed.
"Yes, sir!"
"Call me Vikram," Nobody called him sir. Some rebels, he demanded to be called Parks, for the rest of the gang he was Thick Rock, a tough nut to crack, his name as a leader. For Dustin, his son-in-law, it wouldn't hurt. "Let's go now."
His friends were already stationed in various vehicles and Dustin got into Vikram's car just as his father-in-law asked. They left immediately for the place where Hannah had been kidnapped, Vikram with big plans in his head.
They surrounded the whole house as if they were the police. Some might be rebelling, but Vikram still had an advantage. When they were Eggs Ville, 50 years earlier, they lived in misery, because they were born that way and didn't know how to better their life. Then they were really miserable, because without contact with the rest of the city, they couldn't get all the supplements they really needed. Clothes, food, drink, hygiene... All of that changed with Vikram. He was the man. He had made everyone's life so much better and so he had loyalty, fidelity and respect.
"Boys, I need you to stand back!" the boss said taking the party behind the car, including Oliver. "I'm afraid this will become violent. If it happens, you run away, okay?"
Everyone agreed, including Dustin, but Dustin knew he would never leave Hannah and that was what Vikram feared most.
"Alaric!" Vikram shouted into the megaphone. "You better surrender before it's too late! Release my daughter and we can negotiate your punishment for treason."
Everyone waited a few moments, but there was no answer.
Dustin stamped his foot repeatedly, anxious to get Hannah back. He had always been the fat and toothless nerd, if he didn't save his girl, he would feel like a complete loser.
The rest of the group was still amazed at how far Troy had gone. He looked just like a spoiled brat who tormented others for attention, but he really wanted to be the king of the country no matter what. This was dangerous. To think that they lived close to him all the time, thinking that they would end up with that simple school bullying, when, in fact, he had an evil plan in his sleeves. Although threatening Dustin with a pocket knife and telling Mike to jump off a cliff was a huge sign.
"Alaric!" Vikram made another attempt. "You were discovered and you better give yourself up now, or things will get ugly for you."
Suddenly, they heard a voice that they had no idea where it was coming from.
"Vikram, do you copy? Over!"
"He's in the SuperCom, sir!" Heath said taking the object from his special belt.
"I'm here. You better surrender now, Alaric. Or we will go in. Over."
"Oh, Vikram, Vikram... Always thinking you were in control, while, in fact, I did everything right under your nose and you never noticed!" They heard a laugh and Mike swallowed. I wish El was here! He thought. "It's a little early, but do you really think I would be so confident if I didn't have the resources to do this? Your daughter is stuck in a chair, in the middle of a gasoline circle, and by the way you threaten me, I really want to light a match!"
"No!" Dustin shouted desperately, while everyone's eyes widened. Vikram went pale.
"I'll kill you, you bastard! I'll kill you if you do anything to her!" He shouted between his teeth.
"This attitude does not help your daughter at all. In fact, it only gets worse! Harrington, where's the match?"
"I'll do anything, just give Hannah back! And stay away from those remnants too! You don't want to get attention on the other side!"
"The other side will do everything I want as soon as I threaten to kill this stupid kid who thinks he's in charge!" He laughed again. The boys looked at each other thinking about Troy. It was serious. Despite everything, they didn't want him to die.
"What do you want me to do, Alaric?"
"Resign now! Make everyone obey me, and maybe... I will free Hannah alive!"
"Alar..." But the signal was cut off from the other side and he could no longer hear it.
"What do we do now, sir?" Heath's concern was clear. Alaric had always been very good at fighting. It always served them well and now that he was against them, it was a big threat. He couldn't lose his best leader, but he knew very well that if Hannah went, Vikram would go with her.
Vikram didn't move. He put his hand over his mouth thoughtfully and everyone waited. They were nervous, but they were afraid to disturb him, as he was clearly irritated.
The man wondered what he would do if everyone discovered Hannah's secret, but that seemed to be his only chance. How to cover all the evidence? Should he send everyone home? But they would fill him with questions, just as they wouldn't understand how Hannah got out alive.
It was a big dilemma. It would put everyone at risk. She had promised to keep it away from everyone, which was why Hannah was so alone. All that effort would be for nothing, but it was better to run away with Hannah than to live without her. The sad part was that they had to leave now that she had found love.
"Hannah, my love..." he spoke into the megaphone again. "We're all here, Dad, Heath, Oliver, Dustin... And I want to tell you it's time to be yourself. To stop hiding," He stopped for a breath. Vikram didn't believe he was doing it yet, but it was necessary. "You have my permission to do that! We will figure it out later, but Hannah... get out of there, daughter!"
Dustin couldn't take it anymore. He was very nervous and his father-in-law was giving an emotional speech to Hannah as if she could get out of there alone?
"Vikram!" He shouted in exasperation. "What are you doing?! We don't have time to do these things, we have to help her!"
Normally the man would have been a little angry at the fact that a boy, belonging to the other side mainly, was shouting at him, doubting his actions, but there was so much going through his head at that moment, that he didn't think.
"You know, Dustin... Hannah is not really my daughter!"
Dustin frowned. Was she adopted? Damn it! What was the relevance of that at that moment?
"I need you to not be afraid of her, she likes you a lot..."
She wasn't that afraid of Alaric. She knew very well what he could do, but she saw no reason to be afraid. Her death would cause great astonishment in Dark Legion. She doubted they would surrender to him so easily. Dying to make a difference, maybe even bring the two sides together, wasn't that scary. It just hurt to leave Dustin. He needed her. Together they were more. They had known each other for a week and were already completely in love. And now, they were about to part ways forever. How could that be the end?
"Hannah, my love..." She was so lost in thought that for a moment she really thought he was there with her. That he had already eliminated those who arrested her and now he was going to release her. She came to think that she had died and her father was there to pick her up, but then she remembered that he was alive, so it wasn't possible. Or had they both died? "We're all here, Dad, Heath, Oliver, Dustin...," Dust! How she wanted to be with him! At least she wanted to say goodbye and tell him not to give up on love, because he was a very good person. She closed her eyes and tried to recreate his face in her mind. She wished he was the last thing she would see. "And I want to tell you it's time to be yourself!" Wait, what?! "To stop hiding. You have my permission to do that! We will figure it out later, but Hannah... get out of there, daughter!"
He could only be crazy! She didn't even know if she could do it anymore! It had been so long..., but she couldn't die without ensuring Dustin that everything would be fine. She couldn't leave him. He needed her, but that was crazy! She would expose herself to the world! What did she get into?! But she thought that anyway, they would have tried to kidnap her. Little did they know...
"I found her in the forest at the age of five. I was trying to increase the Dark Legion's territory!" Vikram's eyes filled with water at the image. "She was lost, dirty, scared... And I took her home and I was going to call a social worker, but then she did an impossible thing..."
Dustin's eyes widened.
"If your dad opens his mouth again, you will become roasted beef, understand?!"
"Hm, I love roasted beef!" Troy said with a greedy expression mixed with malice. Alaric looked at him indignantly.
"Damn, stop being suck an idiot, kid!"
They were already making her very angry. And nothing good happened when she got angry, but she had to control herself. Or hadn't she?
"I couldn't let them take her back there, so I left her hidden here, but we can't do this anymore! We have to end this shit of Dark Legion, remnants...," Now Vikram shouted desperately, "We have to live in peace, civilly! The lack of warmth in the heart did this to Hannah and she has been sad all her life! I won't let her be taken without even having lived right! C'MON, DAUGHTER!"
She could hear him. She could feel him. And Dustin too. They were desperate and she understood. Alaric wasn't underestimated, she knew that. But it was so scary to do it again. Her father asked her to guard herself, to try to be normal. Now that she was successful, she was supposed to be like before? This lack of stability killed her.
"Hannah, Hannah," Troy said, standing in front of her, but far enough for when she was set on fire, "I hope you like the heat, because you will boil! Your father giving himself up or not, you'll die! It will be a pleasure to see you suffer, little bitch! I will never forget the face you make when you come!"
And he let out an evil laugh, but that didn't startle Hannah. It just made her crack her teeth and lose control.
"Wait, sir! Are you saying..."
"Eleven!" Mike shouted suddenly and they all looked at a girl who suddenly arrived. Mike ran up to her and hugged her. "What are you doing here?"
"I saw everything in the void," She tried to break free, but was only successful with her powers. Mike ended up squeezing her too much. At various times he thought he was going to die. And yes, he was a dramatic teenager. "I thought a little help wouldn't hurt!"
"It won't!" He smiled and she walked over to Vikram.
"Hi, guys!" she said as if she were a completely innocent girl who hadn't already killed a bunch of people.
"Hi, El!" Everyone greeted her at the same time.
"See, Dustin?" Lucas said. "Eleven came to save the day. As always!"
Max slapped his arm. They couldn't complain. She was the best thing that could have happened that day.
"Sir, I need your arm."
"What the f..." Vikram tried to say, but Eleven interrupted him, taking his arm and closing her eyes. He felt a little electricity run through his body and she released him. The man could see the tattoo she had on her wrist and found out who she was.
"I already know who are the ones who betray you! Permission to arrest them?"
Vikram smiled.
"Permission granted."
Suddenly they heard screams coming from inside the house.
The ropes that held Hannah in the chair loosened on their own and she crossed the circle of fire towards Troy. He looked frightened at the ropes that fell to the ground as if they had been broken, something that was impossible, and he didn't believe it.
"It cannot be," He remembered the girl who had broken his arm years ago. It couldn't be her. "Are you going to break my arm again?"
"I don't know the fuck you're talking about, but great idea!"
That same arm made a noise, and if Troy didn't hold it he would have hung and hurt even more. He tried not to let out moans of pain, not wanting to show weakness in front of her, but it was difficult. Hannah's look, and the expression on her face, was scary. They reminded him of that girl. Nobody dared to move, just watching her walk to Troy, while he stepped back as if he could get away from her.
"You broke my heart, and for a long time I thought I couldn't live any longer. Now that I know what love is, something you never gave me, I won't let myself die that easy. As for you..." He was dragged until he hit the wall and was held there against his will. "I don't know if you deserve to live, Troy. Life is too good for you. Maybe you can do better in hell."
Only with her gaze Troy was out of air. He realized he was being strangled without even being touched and his tongue would have come out, had his entire body not been immobilized.
"Promise you'll leave! Promise you will never harass me or my friends again!" She shouted. "Promise! Promise, Troy!"
Hannah released him and he threw himself forward trying to catch his breath. For a moment he forgot about his broken arm and ended up letting it hit the floor. This time he screamed, but she was too disgusted with him to be sorry.
"Promise, Troy!"
"I promise, damn it!"
"You have until tomorrow morning. Otherwise, I'll come here and finish what I started, understand?" She turned to speak to everyone present in that room. "The same for you, because I promise that I will hunt one by one and tear off your skin until you die because you can't stand the pain!"
Who said she couldn't be a heavy chick? She didn't know if she could live knowing she had killed someone. She would do it only if it was really necessary, but they didn't need to know that. She had to scare them.
Alaric appeared in the room and couldn't believe it when he saw her free, since everyone was around her. And why was Troy on the floor?
"What are you waiting for?" It didn't matter how free she was. "Get her!" As long as they arrested her again.
Alaric was suddenly lifted into the air, and she blocked his airway a little just to scare him.
"I'll let my father decide your future!"
She darted out the door, discovering that he and Dustin were almost at the house. They stopped once they saw her, and their eyes widened when they noticed Alaric floating right behind her.
Hannah made him fall to the floor, but he kept still.
"It's up to you, dad!"
"How about rotting in the Dark Legion chain? It's rotten just like our fame... no good. Dying is too easy! And you will have a lot of friends for company!"
Dustin was paralyzed not believing that his girlfriend also had superpowers.
"You can take him!" Vikram shouted and Heath arrived with other henchmen to get Alaric out of there and take him to jail.
"Dustin!" Hannah shouted and hugged him. When he smelled her perfume, he woke up and hugged her back. Good thing she was safe, even though she was never really in danger. "I need to tell you that you are amazing!" She pulled back a little to look him in the eye, but they were still holding each other. "You have to trust yourself more, believe in what you can do! Just your smile makes me so happy... You are the best guy in the world!"
He smiled, not believing the woman he had.
"I love you, Hannah!" He kissed her like there was no tomorrow. He pressed her so tightly against his body that he lifted her off the floor and forgot how to breathe for a few seconds. He even forgot that her father was right there.
"Calm down, children! You won't want to eat dessert before dinner!"
The two separated in fright. What do you mean he was still alive after that, huh?
"Dad!" Hannah hugged him. She had never felt so encouraged and confident to be who she was. He always wanted to protect her, but he believed she could save herself and so she finally paid Troy back. "Thanks!"
"I'm glad you're okay, little one!"
Just before Hannah left, Eleven revealed the whereabouts of those who were with Alaric and all of Vikram's allies were going after them. They would hold them while El oversaw the service, and Mike was right behind to make sure that she was safe, even if she didn't need protection. Max and Lucas took the opportunity to get to know that area better. And Will went to take some photos of the crime scene and Dark Legion in general to show that they weren't that dangerous.
It sure was quite of a Monday.