The pair had been running for hours at this point taking short steps when they needed to take a breather. They had just reached town and once they found a diner, they rushed inside so they could talk about their next move.
"I think it's best if you stay hidden." Mike told El as the waitress gave them both glasses of water. " So in your basement?" El asked, cocking her head to the side in confusion. " I thought of it more like Hopper's cabin." Mike said sheepishly, taking a sip of water. The whole gang hadn't been back there since the summer of 85.
" It would only be a couple of months. Then, if you want, you can come and live with me." He explained. El nodded not saying a word. He knew she wasn't happy about it but knew that she knew it was for the best. After a couple of moments of awkward silence El spoke up.
" Promise me that you all will visit me at least once a week." El told him. "Promise." He smiled. She smiled back at him as they continued to drink their waters.
….
" Do you want to go in first?" Mike asked El as they stood in front of the cabin. El nodded and walked towards the building, Mike close behind her. El cracked open the door and immediately noticed how the cabin was in shambles.
The roof had caved in and holes riddled the walls from where the Mind flayer had pushed through. The rest of the cabin looked fine like her old room and Hopper's. "So um I should head home. I'll come back in a couple hours okay?" Mike told her. She nodded her head saying she understood and Mike left her there all alone.
As he walked home he felt like something was off. Like that feeling when something bad is about to happen. When he came out of the woods he saw his mom at the front door talking to someone who looked like they worked at the lab.
"Shit." He said underneath his breath as he ran to the back door that led into his basement. He went in through there and right before he hit the first step up the stairs he noticed something shiny by the couch. He picked it up and realized that it was the bracelet that El had given to him.
He put it on and rushed up the stairs. Right before he reached the top step he heard his mom call out to him. " Coming!" He yelled back at her. He walked slowly to where his mom was standing in the doorway.
The scientist that he saw from before was no longer there. Now stood in its place was Brenner. " This man wanted to ask you some questions." She explained to him. He nodded his head in response. He hoped that Brenner didn't know where El was.
"May I speak to your son privately?" Brenner asked. " Of course. I'll be in the other room." His mom went off to leave them alone. " Is El okay? Is she hurt?" He aksed playing dumb. " I think you already know the answer to that." Mike's stomach dropped. " So where is she?" He asked him. " I don't know. She ran in a different direction from myself." Mike explained hoping that Brenner would leave. " I don't believe that. So I'm going to ask again. Where is she?" Brenner's words were laced with anger.
" Like I said. I don't know!" Mike yelled back trying to be as convincing as he could. " Well then. We better be going." Brenner said. Mike watched as they all got into the car and drove off. He closed the door and then ran back downstairs and through the back door and fast into the woods.
….
Max watched as Mike rushed into the woods. She was going to warn him that they were coming and now she was too late. Brenner must have seen where Mike was going and started to follow him into the woods.