Wednesday July 3rD 1985. Newby Household.

Danny POV.

Last night I returned home from the mall to find Jonathan and the party still up and about in the living room, the group teens having just informed my long-time best friend of everything going on... meaning the moment my feet stepped through the door's threshold, he questioned me about Nancy's whereabouts. After telling him, he left in a hurry to the hospital to find his girlfriend, and hopefully sort out whatever dispute they had earlier that day too. It gave me some relief throughout the night that the Wheeler had back up, just in case.

As for the rest of us, we settled down for sleep with the girls taking my room, Lucas and Mike using one of the spares, leaving Will and I on the couches. The other spare left for Nancy and Jonathan if they came back sometime in the early morning. For myself, the majority was spent looking out windows and checking the perimeter every hour or so for anything suspicious. Luckily nothing of the sort seemed off and soon enough the sun makes it's appearance announcing a new day. One that is sure to be filled with more dread and danger.

Before the kids stir, I help myself to a long hot shower, throwing on another pair of jeans and black button down afterwards, once again not bothering with any makeup. Eventually returning to the main floor, where the clock reads a little past 6am. Ugh, needing extra energy, my fingers flick on the coffee pot and set down a large mug on the counter, loading it up with sugar. A click behind me gains my attention, body automatically rounding the corner to find the high school couple taking off their shoes. "Morning… so what's the verdict?"

Nancy's' grimace pretty much gives it away. Ah. "Last night at 9, Mrs.Driscoll had a fit, exactly like Wills months ago. They ran a bunch of tests but nothing ever panned out..."

"I don't think they have a test for being Flayed by otherworldly monsters."

"So The Mindflayer is back? Jon told me about Billy... is Eleven alright?"

I nod, "some minor bruising and soreness, nothing she can't handle," motioning for them to follow me into the kitchen and considerately pulling out extra mugs, setting them next to mine. "So, Mrs. Driscoll too... meaning there's likely more people who've been Flayed as well."

The couple glance wearily to each other, "how many do you think?" Nancy frowns.

"Question of the day… I think El mentioned a girl, though I completely blanked on asking if they found out who it was. I've been off my game since the wall smashing incident."

Jonathan purses his lips, "you're lucky whoever did that to you wasn't out for blood."

"Killing us would raise too many questions. The last thing they want to is draw attention… next time they won't hesitate knowing we're still digging into what's going on."

Scuffling in the living room alerts us to the younger Byers waking, watching him slowly shift from the couch to his feet and shuffling through the threshold to sit at the table, "morning."

"Morning," all three of us chiming back to him simultaneously.

Wills browns slide from his sibling to my own, "The Mindflayer is back."

"Seems like it."

"What happened at the hospital?"

"Turns out Billy isn't the only person in Hawkins who's flayed," my words earning wide eyes from the younger boy, "-so far we know of three now. Billy, Mrs.Driscoll and the girl from Eleven's mindscape."

"So, we can assume there's more."

"Highly possible. Who knows at what rate he's spreading around… when did you first feel him?"

"The night before you and Dustin got back. I was at the theater with the others."

Dammit, "over three days ago… that's plenty of time for him to sink his poison into a chunk of Hawkins. This is so much worst than I ever feared." I need a drink, legs taking me to the oven where a cupboard above holds a bottle of tequila and shot glasses. Without a glance at my friends, I pull it free and pour one for myself, throwing it back. "We need to get in contact with Hopper, but it's been radio silence on his end for over twelve hours. Something tells me he and Joyce are knee deep in shit too."

"Then what do we do?"

Why did I choose a leadership role again? "Uh.." What would Hop and Dad do… "Okay... first, we'll wait for El to get up to see if she can find Hopper and Joyce. After that we'll get her to find Dustin and Steven to make sure they're alright." Easy enough. "Then we set up the Cabin to bring Billy and get the monster out of him… catching and wrapping him up in heavy-duty chains is going to be a challenge."

"Are you even sure it's possible?" Jon queried; disbelief written on his face.

Not at all, but, "it's important to try for Lil'Red."

"He's strong Danny-bear. Stronger than last time."

"I know... I just don't know what else to do. It's not like we can evacuate the town without knowing who's infected. Besides, they'd never listen to us anyway, not without the Chief, and still, it's not a guarantee without the Army."

"We can try to find everyone who's been infected? Keep track and maybe we can find a pattern?"

"Easier said then done," rubbing my eyes in frustration and exhaustion, "there's no way.. Billy is our best bet at the moment. We actually have a chance in saving him compared to that option." A long yawn leaving my lips as Nancy agrees.

"You should get some sleep Danny, you've been up all night," Will says to me, before turning to his sibling and the Wheeler girl. "You guys too. I'll keep watch and wake you guys when the others wake up, or if anything happens."

"But- "

"Please. Just try." Adamant on it.

"Fine. Keep the coffee hot."

"OK. Sleep."

"I'll come with you. I can use a few hours of rest," Nancy shuffling up next to me and ignoring Jon's obvious stare. She's still mad...

I nod at the boys, "eyes peeled for trouble. Wake us no later than noon, or there will be hell."

"Right." Jonathan answers without hesitation.

Nancy follows me down the hall where we turned right, entering the smallest room, my petit brunette friend closing the door once we're inside. "I can't believe my theory was right... thanks for backing me up, Danny."

"Anytime Nance... so, you and Jon didn't figure everything out?" The question leaving my lips as I pulled the beds blanket back to crawl in.

"Not really... it's been tense and awkward mostly," she admits, slipping in beside me and laying down.

"At least he went to the hospital to be with you."

"It doesn't make up for what he said. Sure, he apologized and admitted he was wrong, but he was a jerk and I want him to stew a bit... is that so wrong?"

I snort, "nah, but don't make him suffer too long… with everything going on, wasting any time on anger, rather than spent with the one you love would be a mistake." The heartfelt words drawing Nancy's brown eyes to mine in understanding. On that note, we both managed to fall asleep, our sleepless night catching up to us. What little rest we get doesn't late long, Eleven shaking me awake in what feels like less than five minutes.

However, the clock reads 11:56 a.m. meaning it's been well over four hours, Nancy already missing from the spot next to me. "We leave now." El says.

"Okay," leaving the comfort of the bed and stretching slowly. "Did you find Hopper or Dustin?"

"Hop in Illinois." What? "-Dustin and Steve in elevator." What?

"Neither of that is helpful… what about Billy?"

"I never look. We go to Heathers." She says, trailing me as I leave the room to join the others in the main one.

"Heather... Holloway?" That's who she heard with Billy?

"Yes… she is Flayed."

I grimaced, searching the cupboards for a travel mug and filling it with sugar and coffee, turning off the pot beforr turning to everyone, "so we go to the Holloways? Isn't her father the one who runs the paper?" Sight finding Nancy's who nods in response. "Did he seem off to you yesterday?"

"He did… he was sweaty and weird all together, which is why we need to check out their house to confirm in." The Wheeler girl informs me.

"Right… everyone take a radio and key." I tell them, fishing out the bag of spares and tossing it on the table. "This is base for now. Any sign of Flayed nearby means we ditch here and go to the cabin." Everyone easily agrees. "-Nance, in the trunk of my car there's a shot gun. Load it in your mom's vehicle, shells are in the driver door, pack them all. Keys are by the front door." The brunette does as suggested, exiting the house with Jon on her heels, as expected since he failed her yesterday. "As for the rest of you, load up, we don't have time to waste… boys in the back," motioning for them to get a move on, while I tucked my gun away, along with the badge into my pocket with extra rounds again.

I'm the last to exit the house with my radio and coffee, locking up and sliding into the wagon next to Max, who sits center of El and I now. The three teenage boys are tucked into the back; legs curled allowing each of them enough space to sit. I force a chuckle down, knowing laughing at a time like this would be insensitive… even if it would make me feel even a little better with this hell going on. Soon we're on the way to Heathers, not much conversation going on between anyone in the car for a few minutes. Unsurprising that this has every single one of us on edge. "Where were Hop and Joyce?" Question directed at my little sister.

"In the woods… with another man in handcuffs."

My eyebrows raise, "and they said specifically they were going to Illinois?"

"Yes."

"Okay... and the others were in an elevator, did they say where?" She shakes her head. "We're on our own then," is the last thing said as we pull up to the nice house a minute later, walking up the path together in silence after parking.

Nancy rings the doorbell twice, before glancing at Eleven to unlock the bright red door, the older couple taking the lead inside when it opens. "Tom?" No answer draws everyone in further, myself covering the back, eyes scanning for any threat. Upon entering an immediate chill settle over me, and the feint smell of cleaning products hit my nose. Immediately gagging when stepping into the kitchen alongside Will, various chemicals spread everywhere. Even appliances are ripped from walls. "More chemicals." The mini reporter states.

Jonathan picks up a few bottles and glancing at his girlfriend, "you think their guzzling this shit?"

"Yeah. Either that or they just went on a hell of a cleaning spree." Sassy.

"Last year Will didn't eat chemicals... did you?" Red asks the younger Byers.

He shakes his head no, "no… this is something new."

Mike jumps in, "Mr. Clarke, fifth grade. Posit. What happens when you mix chemicals together?"

"You create a new substance." I say with the other boys.

"What if they're making something?" He questions some more.

Max appears confused, "in themselves? I mean, come on, if you drink this crap, it'll kill you."

"Yeah. if you're human." Lucas points out.

He makes sense, turning away from them and continuing through the house, Nancy along with me. We slowly pass by the dinning table where food is left untouched, up until we stop next to a empty bottle of wine and blood stain on the rug. My friend connects the dots while picking up the make shift weapon stained in blood, "the bandage. He was attacked." Agreeing with her, I follow the blood trail that leads out to the garage, where cut rope lays on the concrete telling the remaining story. Billy and Heather kidnapped her parents and brought them somewhere to be Flayed… Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

Jon comes to the same conclusion, "they must of tied him up and taken him somewhere."

Nancy unsurprisingly pieces things together more, "Mrs. Driscoll kept saying 'I have to go back'. What if the flaying is taking place somewhere else? There must be a place where all this started, right? A source."

"Somewhere he didn't want me to see." Eleven says.

"If we find the source-"

"-then maybe we can stop him." I finish for the Wheeler girl.

"-or at least stop it from spreading or doing whatever the hell he's doing with those chemicals." She adds on.

"How do we find it?" My little sister voices for everyone.

"Mrs. Driscoll," Will suggests. "If she wants to go back so badly, why don't we let her?" Without another word we all make our way back to the wagon, leaving behind the eerie and empty house.

"We should wait it out until evening… the hospital will be too busy at this time to get her out unnoticed." Nancy taking my advice and turning for my place again, where we wait until eight p.m. to make the drive. In the meantime we eat, shower and stop by each of the kids houses to ensure their parents aren't Flayed. Our next couple of hours uneventful, but stressful nonetheless.

Under Hawkins County, 6: 18 p.m.

3rd Person POV.

Meanwhile, the Scoop Troop is jn the midst of walking down the endless metal corridor with no sight in end, having left the metal container behind for more steel walls. "I mean you have to admit, as a feat of engineering alone, this is impressive." Dustin says nearly on the third hour straight of walking. "Danielle would agree."

Steve scoffs, "what are you talking about? It's a total fire hazard. There's no stairs, there's no exit. There's just an elevator that drops you halfway to hell."

"They're Commies. You don't pay people, they cut corners." Erica states with attitude.

"To be fair to our Russian comrades, I don't think this tunnel was designed for walking." Robin cut in. "Think about it, they developed the perfect system for transporting that cargo."

Dustin agrees, "it all comes into the mall like any old delivery."

"And then they load it up onto those trucks and nobody's the wiser."

Steve raises his eyebrows at the other high school graduate, "you think they built this whole mall so they could transport that green poison?"

"I very seriously doubt it's something as boring as poison." Henderson drawled. "It's gotta be much more valuable, like promethium or something."

"What the hell is promethium?" The oldest asked, glancing at the curly haired teen.

"It's what Victor Stone's dad used to make Cyborg's bionic and cybernetic components." Robin enlightened her Scoops counterpart.

Erica groans, "you're all so nerdy, it makes me physically ill."

"No, no, no. No, don't lump me in with them," Steve immediately denies. "I'm not a nerd, all right?"

"Why so sensitive, Harrington? Afraid of loosing cool points to a ten-year-old child?"

"No. I'm just saying I don't know jack shit about Prometheus."

"Promethium." Dustin corrected. "Prometheus is a Greek mythological figure, but whatever… Danny-bear is a nerd too, so try not to sound soo insulted Steve." He adds, shooting the older brunet a look of disappointment. "Anyway, all I'm saying it's probably being used to make something."

"Or power something." Robin throws in.

"Like a nuclear weapon?"

"Totally." She says to the teenage boy.

"Walking towards a nuclear weapon… that's great." Steve drawled, wishing he was somewhere above ground with Danny instead. "Totally great…"

"But if they're building something, why here? I mean, Hawkins. Seriously. Of all places? At the very best, we're a toilet stop on your way to Disneyland... but maybe that's it..." Buckley rambles on while the boys come to a stop, girls continuing forward.

The oldest shifts to the curly haired teen, "you think the Russians know?"

"About-?" the Upside-down? "-they could," Henderson says without falter.

"So, it's connected?"

"Maybe,"

"How?"

"-I don't know, but it's- "

"Possible." They determined together.

Robin, with her good earseasily catches most of their conversation and turns around with the youngest to call rhe boys out, "I'm sorry, is there something you'd like to share with the class?" Before they can reply, the walkie goes off, Russian transmission repeating itself once more, the older girl mimicking its words. "The code.. where ever that broadcast is coming from-"

"It's close." Dustin notes.

"-if there's one thing we know about that signal-"

"-It can reach the surface." He finished.

"Let's go." Buckley says, motioning for them to follow.

Steve Harrington wishes once more, that he was anywhere else right now with Danny, rather than walking towards likely death. Hopefully she's a whole lot safer than we are currently…

Hawkins Hospital, 8: 49 p.m.

Danny POV.

At our arrival, the parking lot is practically empty with only a few lingering vehicles remaining and no person in sight. Other than the women at the front counter, who sits gossiping on her phone while we attempt to pass her without drawing too much attention. Ultimately failing as she waves us down and raises her voice, "whoa! Whoa, whoa! Excuse me! Where do you think you're going?"

Nancy takes the lead, trying to play off our suspicious actions, "oh, uh… I was just going to visit my grandma again… and this, is uh, my family." Smooth Wheeler.

The women gives Lucas a look. "Extended," he smiles innocently at her look of disbelief."

With a hand on her hip, she leaves us no option, "I don't care who they are. You know the rules. Two visitors at a time."

Nancy tries to argue, "yeah... but- "

"Two." End of discussion as the hospital employee returns to her phone call, "girl, this child has lost her mind. She brought a whole zoo in here."

At that, I motion for Nancy come with me and nod at the others to sit and wait for us by the vending machines, "J, keep an eye out. We won't be long."

"Okay… be careful." He says, eyes lingering on his girlfriend for a few moments longer than me.

"Any sign of trouble, forget what that lady said and come find us." I tell the party, who all easily agree.

Together, the Wheeler girl and I enter inside an elevator, where she hits the 4th floor button. Music plays at its door closes, the lift shaking as it travels upwards. "This is it... we let her go and she leads us to the source." My friend breaths, no hint of worry or nervousness in her tone.

"If it all goes as planned, sure… but when does that ever happen?" I quipped as we arrived to the floor and jurneying out into the hallway around multiple corners. We cross no one, not a single doctor, nurse or visitor around. "Creepy…" muttering as we pass a clipboard scatted along the linoleum floor, chills crawling along my spine and neck with every step. Sooo fucking creepy…

"Her room is just up ahead." Everything feeling more ominous the further we traveled into the deserted hospital, the petit brunette coming to a stop at one of the doors. She peers at me over her shoulder and then opens it, no patient in sight... just a mess of blankets and a knocked over vases of water and flowers.

"Where is she?" I wondered out loud, "actually, where is anyone?" This feels off… really fucking off, hairs on my arm lifting in warning as Nancy treks over to the patient clipboard, checking it out.

"I don't know... this is the right room."

Suddenly, lights flicker out and the buzzing of electricity echoes around us wildly. Shit, naturally backing in closer to my friend and shifting to shield her as footsteps sound nearby. I watch the entryway as a man crosses the threshold, his voice answering my previous question, "she's gone home." Tom Holloway stepping into the light, hands and shirt covered in blood and his overall appearance leaving much to be desired. "We were hoping you might come back," he says to Nancy, slowly approaching us.

"Who's blood is that?" The question leaving me as my left hand reaches for the gun in my waistband, the other guiding Nance backwards.

"Tom, whatever you've done, it's not you." She appeals, hoping her words can bring him back. Already I know it's a lost cause, his look utter evil and determined. "He's making you do this." In the corner of my eye I catch a glimpse of the tipped vase, choosing to furlong my gun and grasping the makeshift weapon and smashing it across the Flayed man's face when he's far too close for my liking. It allows us the opportunity to run by him, my hand pulling Nancy along with me.

"Let's go!"

Accept we're halted right outside the door by another man, far larger than Tom, his hand holding his head as he blocks our path. "Owwie." He groans,.trudging at as now and forcing us to change direction.

"Go, go, go!" Shoving Nance the other way and running from both threats. She guides us into one of the stairways, only making it a floor down, caution signs and tape blocking us from going any further. "Fuck, we need to find another exit," pulling the third floor's door open and sprinting down it's hall all while the second Flayed man exits behind us. Our breaths are rushed and rugged, my heartbeat fast as we run past dead bodies in our attempt of escape. So many bodies.. "This way," tugging her into the restricted area to our left and picking up speed.

We fly through a couple more doors, coming across a intercom that connects to the front desk where my friend presses the button, "hello? Hello?" With no answer, she spys a phone in the room beside us and pulling me along with her. While she dives over to it, I lock the door and back up, pulling out my gun and aiming it safety off, at the exit. "It's ringing!" Relief in her tone as I keep eyes on the door. "Come on!! Pick up!" she urges just as lights crackle again.

"Nancy drop it." Those words barely leaving my lips as an arm smashes through the glass, Flayed man number two's face poking through the hole with a smirk.

"Hi there…" I take a deep breath and focus as he reaches to unlock the door and pushing it open. "I'm here for you Nancy Drew," his threat draws a whimper from the girl next to me, but I don't let it shake my focus, pulling the trigger and hitting him square in the shoulder. When the first shot doesn't faze him, I take another, this time at his thigh, but yet again, not stopping him.

"Fuck sakes," having no choice but to aim for his head and pulling my index finger back again... except it refuses to budge anymore, somehow jamming out of nowhere. FUCK, quickly changing my stance to defense and using the weapon as a blunt force to smash into the bastard's face. I managed to stun him, however not long enough as he grabs my throat, lifting me in the air and shoving Nancy away as she tries to help. Then all I see is black spots... his head smashing into my face I think, and then tossed like a ragdoll, every muscle spazzing as I hit the wall and crashed to the floor. Ugh… I got to get up, forcing my palms down and steadying myself trying to stand and gather my bearings.

Just when I think it can't get any worst, Nancy screams my name in warning, "DANNY!" Sharp pain like nothing before, radiates from my back to everywhere in my body, air spilling out of me as I fall chest down to the hard flooring. My ears ring and everything convulses in hurt, tears leaking uncontrollably as I struggle to regain my breath. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.. what… just happened, barely turning my neck to see the Flayed man raising a steel stool above me for a final blow… until he's stabbed in the back of the shoulders with scissors, making him release his weapon.

My savior pants as the man turns on her now, ripping the sharp utensil from him skin and stumbling closer, "you bitch."

"Nancy, RUN!" My warning spurring her into action, the Flayed chasing her from the room with fury. Fuck… I need to help her, struggling and straining to move, all limbs fighting against me wanting nothing more than to lay still and give in. My back especially protesting as I use the very stool that put me in this position to help myself to my knees. Of course, it's kick from my hands, chest and chin hitting the floor another time, a moan of pain escaping me.

"Where do you think you're going Deputy Newby?" Not Tom asks rhetorically, grabbing me up by my shirt and slamming me into the wall. He doesn't give me any time to recover, quickly throwing me over a gurney to the floor once more. In doing so, I see a small chance of redemption in the pair of scissors laying two feet away, pushing towards them... but not fast enough as I'm yanked by my hair and smashed skull first again. Urghh… I'm going to die, is the only full thought I can muster at this point, head and body aching immensely.

Clink, clanging of metal hitting ground snaps me from giving into the darkness, orbs focusing enough to find the scissors nearby while Tom gurgles and scuffles around distraught. Mustering every ouce of strength I have left and forcing my body upwards, I grip the scissors and face the Flayed man, forcefully driving the sharp weapon into his neck. My legs give out seconds later as he chokes, veins bulging and black, his body falling down prone and across from me.

The rooms lights flicker as I pant and sigh in relief, instantly realizing that's a mistake when all electricity cuts out around me. When it blinks back on, Tom's body begins to convulse, groans and off-putting noises filling the room as he seizures uncontrollably.

Again, I have no choice but to get up, legs shaking and weak while shuffling to put space between us and also picking up my discarded gun. What happens next is absolutely disgusting, my stomach lurching and acid rising, it's bitter taste strong as I observe what was once Tom... now a fleshy pool of bones, hair and skin, crawling along the floor, all remaining proof that the man ever existed is the clothes that lay soggy and blood covered on the floor. I trail the blob of flesh outside the room, where it slides and slurches forward…

Up ahead from around the corner, another of its kind slinks out, Nancy following too. That must be the other man, our eyes meeting across the hallway as both oozes meld and combine together, disturbing chittering and squelches sounding from it. All lights go black as things go quiet, though it only lasts for moment as a horrifying screech rings out. An ugly, deformed, flesh dripping monster stands illuminated between us, it's back to me and focus on my friend who's too far away from me. "NANCY, RUN!" Luckily, she heads the words, her shoulder ramming into the exit which appears to be blocked. FUCK! "HEY. HEY," shouting and trying to distract it by slamming anything nearby into the walls.

Unfortunately, it doesn't work, the creature still lungung Nancy's way, but is halted by the door which she managed to pass through in escape. However, it doesn't hold the monster long, its flesh ramming the barrier open and following her down as I chased them. My legs move slow, every step a protest, but stubbornness and worry for my friend outweighs all pain as I come upon the next scene. Somehow, IT melts down to liquid form and slinks through the crack of the door, into the room Nancy takes refuge in. "DANNY, HELP!" Distress and fear strong in her voice and she calls for me from inside.

"I'm here! I'm coming," fiercely ramming the door multiple times and gasping in pain, refusing to give up. Knowing it's futile and searching for another way in, I eyed the glass window, pulling my gun out again and removing the clip. Quickly, I dislodge the jammed casing and reload it, aiming at the glass and shooting. It only takes one round to break through, my eyes landing on Nancy who lays down as the monster hovers over her. NO!

BANG!

Beside me, the impossible to break down door is ripped off its hinges, flying into the room at the monster as Eleven and the rest of the party finally makes their appearance. "Jesus." Mike says glimpsing the fleshy entity.

Max gawked, "what the fuck?"

One look at the creature is all it takes for the supernatural girl to lift it with her powers and slam it all around the room, as it shrieks reactively. "Ahhh!" She gripped, reaching both her hands out as it snarls and raising it upwards and out the window. She motions for us to go after it, Jon the only one staying as he rushes to check in on his girlfriend. Together we rushed outside to the parking lot, where we witness it slink off into the sewers, again disappearing from our grasp.

Fuck, adrenaline leaving me buckling at the knees and landing hard on asphalt, my body aches, especially back and ribs, which could potentially be fractured from earlier. "Danny! Oh my God, are you okay?" Nancy says, kneeling next to me, yet sounding so far away. My head is a mess... how the hell does Steve get anything done in this state? "I need rest… Hopper's is our safest choice."

"Okay... here." Her voice coming through again as she wraps one of my arms around her shoulder. Jon does the same on my other side, our eyes meeting momentarily until my head lolls forward, everything going black.

When I come too again, I'm in my bed at the cabin, vision clearing and landing on the window where light peaks through. Must be early morning… I've been out for a while then, garnering enough strength to roll off the mattress and steadying myself. The room spins as my head pulses, thoughts registering that I need pain medication and ice, "ugh… this fucking sucks."

"You're awake." Eleven says as I pattered into the main room, where her, Max and Mike sit in the booth. "How feel?"

"Honestly?" Pausing to find the right word to sum up how utterly defeated I feel, "last night was hell... ask me again when all this is over, okay?" My sister nods. "Where's Nancy and Jon?"

"They went to go shower and stuff, Lucas too." Max answers.

I move through the room slowly and picking up the discarded bottle of pills from off a counter and taking two with water, then tucking them in my pocket for later. "No call or anything from Hopper?"

"Nothing. Of course when we need that asshole, he isn't anywhere in sight." Mike inputs amidst eating his cereal.

"He's probably dealing with something else important... they'll be back soon." I hope, "what about anyone else?"

"Not yet."

"Have you rested?"

"Yes." All three respond.

"Good… I guess I'll hit the shower too." Unable to picture how much of a wreck I likely appear, considering I feel like walking death right now. I go about doing that, moving at a snail ace and conserving energy in case things go south again... which is almost a guarantee.

For a while we settled around the cabin quietly, up until the others return. When they do, Nancy brings pictures with her of Mrs. Driscoll, Tom and Dave (the other reporter from yesterday), who met his demise by her hands. With those, Eleven goes to her room for a quiet space and delves into her mind space in search of them. The rest of us talk amongst ourselves in low tones, when Mike becomes frustrated. "It can't be good for her to be in there for this long," referring to my little siblings who's used a fair amount of tissue paper for her nosebleeds while trying to find the missing people. Unable to track them due to the Mindflayers abilities.

In my heart I already know they're gone... morphed and apart of that thing now. The question is how many? What if it just keeps getting bigger and bigger, more fearsome and deadly? What a terrible way to die.

"Mike, you need to relax." Max says from her seat on the couch.

He continues pacing the room, "what if she gets brain damage or something?"

Lucas frets, "oh, shit. Is that, like, a real thing?" That's a little far fetched… if anything she'll wear herself out, like any person who over works themselves.

Lil Red denies the Wheeler Boys words, "no, it's not. He made it up. Mike doesn't know what he's talking about."

"Oh, and you do?"

"No, I-"

"Mike is saying he's concerned for El's wellbeing, without wanting to sound sappy." I chime in, flustering the lanky teen as I pass him to join Nancy, Jon and Will in the kitchen area.

Max and Lucas chuckle as he glowers, "all I'm saying is she doesn't need to be in there so much." Him and the redhead bickering some more.

Nancy on her sixteenth call, obvious exasperation written on her face and body language, hanging up after another curt response from the other line, "who's next?"

"There is no next." Jon says, crossing out the last lead. "Unless you want to start calling random peoples homes."

The petit brunette sighs, "it doesn't make sense."

"What part of any of this makes sense?" True J..

"There's a pattern, okay? A consistency to their behavior." Nance also makes a solid point. "-they've been feeding on the chemicals since this started." Four days ago. "- and then what? They just stop, out of the blue?"

"Maybe they have all the chemicals they need." Will contributes.

"It's possible." My gut telling me the youngest Byers is right. "If Tom and Dave turned into those things, maybe the rest have or will be, meaning they accomplished what was needed with that shit."

"Even so, what about the source?" Nancy forged on. "I mean, did the Mindflayer just suddenly stop infecting people? And even if the Flayed are monsters now, why can't El find them?"

"If their monsters, their not really a them anymore… just flesh in His army." My statement brutal, yet right on the money.

"Okay, can you guys settle an argument for us?" Max interupts, Mike trailing her. When we look at her to go on, she does, "who do you think should decide El's limits? Mike or Eleven?" I snort, shaking my head and not needing to say where I stand concerning such conflict.

Mike immediately gets defensive, "the way that you frame that is such bullshit."

"It's not bullshit, Mike. This is your whole problem, and it's also precisely the reason why she dumped your ass."

The statement surprises the Wheeler girl, "El dumped you?" Right, I never told her that.

"Yeah, because she's conspiring against me." The teen blaming his problem on Little Red. I roll my eyes, but stay out of it, shuffling away from them as Mike complains again, "she's corrupting her."

A huff comes from Maxine, "no, I'm enlightening her."

While they waste time on that, I peak in to check on Eleven, slipping inside her room just as she pulls off the blindfold. "Anything?"

"I found Billy."

"What was he doing?"

"Sitting in his room."

Hmm, "waiting to be called into play by the sounds of it.."

Raised voices outside of the room draws the teen girl's attention from me, bringing her closer to the door to listen in. Mike and Max's voices are loudest as they still argue over Eleven, only ending when the Wheeler admits to loving her… which is when I guide her to exit and interrupt, "what's going on?" she plays dumb, eyes landing on him.

"Uh. nothing. Nothing. Just a family discussion." He quickly lies, looking to the others for help and wanting to avoid his embarrassing confession. I think it's sweet, not so much something to be embarrassed about.

"Oh..." Poor El having to pretend for his sake. "-I found him."

"Found who?"

The supernatural girl filling them in on what she told me only a minute ago. "What about Dustin?" Lucas inquired.

"He was in a tunnel… crawling. A girl was there too. She looks like you." Eleven answers.

"You mean she was black?" El nods. "How old?"

"Younger… maybe ten?"

It could only be, "Erica? Dustin is with Erica? What the hell?" Lucky balked.

"What about Steve?" My little sister meeting my eyes and shaking her head. "Their not together?"

"No… but I can find him."

"I'm sure he's okay… you should take a break sis. Want me to make some eggos?" She refuses, taking my hand instead and leading me to her room. "El…"

"I'm okay big Sis. I know my strength. I find Steve for you" insisting by placing the blindfold on again and sitting in front of the TV. A couple minutes later, a gasp leaves my adoptive sibling.

"Enchantress?"

"I found him… he's with the ice cream girl." Robin, "-he's bleeding and tied up." What?

Under Hawkins County, 3:24 p.m.

3rd Person POV.

Steve Harrington and Robin Buckley remain tied up and prone on the floor… no chance in sight for escape anymore, now that they failed in getting ahold of the scissors. "For the record, I'm sorry you won't get to see Danielle Newby again before we die…" The female says, changing the subject after admitting to her Scoops counter part that being friends was fun while it lasted. Torture and potential death is next on the table for us, she assumes to herself.

The brunet sighs with his eyes closed and head resting against his co-worker's, mind picturing the always smiling and joking pretty blonde. Not at all shocked he's able to hear her laugher in his head, even when it's throbbing, "don't worry about it, Robin… frankly, she's better off wherever she is."

"She's always liked you; since junior high you know."

"How do you know that?"

"When you're invisible you tend to notice a lot more."

Steve's brows furrow, "funny… she said something just like that before too."

"I never pegged her as your type, but when senior year came around and she moved back… you two never seemed to be too far from one another."

"I never thought in a million years that I'd actually be friends with her… it surprised me too."

"She's good for you."

"Everyone keeps saying that."

"I didn't get it... recently that's changed. You're not who you use to be, not who I remember from class a few years ago." Robin shared honestly. "You've come a long way Steve Harrington. If this truly is the end, I'm glad I got to know the real you."

The eighteen-year-old doesn't get a chance to reply, door opening up and the Russians reentering, halting all conversation between the pair of young adults. This time, a man in an apron and briefcase tags along, both ice cream-slingers already knowing this is the doctor the General was talking about.

Hoppers Cabin, 5:18 pm.

Danny POV.

Tied up and bloody?

Did the Russians find out they were translating the code?

Where the hell are they?

All Eleven sees are metal rooms and tunnels…

Fuck… Steve Harrington you better find your way back to me.

Unable to do much for either him or Dustin, Eleven focuses on Billy, deciding it's best to constantly peak in to see what he's doing... which isn't much, the mullet haired teen still hasn't left his bedroom. A strong possibility that he's waiting around for us to show up.

"That's not normal, right?" Nancy asked the room, myself pacing back and forth, thoughts still on Steve and Daring.

Max grimaced, "Billy staying in his room on the fourth of July? No, that's not normal."

"He wants us to find him." Will says what I figured.

Nancy too, "that's what I'm afraid of. If we go to Billy, then the rest of the Flayed know where we are."

"It's a trap. I agree. We'll be ambushed." Her brother states.

"We won't be surprised. We'll know that there coming and we will kick their Flayed butts." Lucas put forth.

Immediately I jump in, "no. It's too risky. If anything, luring them to us when we're prepared to fight is our best chance. We're no where ready to take down what could be a giant monster by now..."

"Exactly. It would be El alone kicking their butts." Little Red points out.

Both Wheelers agree with us, Lucas's plan unnecessary and dangerous, Nancy saying the obvious, "killing the Flayed won't stop the Mindflayer. We have to find out where it's spreading from. We have to find the source."

"Billy knows it. Billy's been there… to the source." Eleven says, rejoining us from the kitchen.

"Yeah, but it's- "

"-a trap. I know." She cuts Mike off. "We can't go to Billy… but I think there's another way." I contemplate what she means. "-a way for me to see where he's been." It clicks.

"Like you did with your mom?"

"Yes." Her decision already made as she gathers the blindfold again and moves to set up in the living room space. Hopefully this works... if so, we could find the others this way too, following my little sister and claiming a seat nearby.

Mike takes the opportunity to kneel next to Eleven, concern showing on his face, "El... I know you think you have to do this, but you don't. It's just, you've only done this before, only once." Fair reasoning, "-and your mom, she loved you and wanted you to know what happened." More good reasoning. "Billy's mind is sick… diseased. The Mindflayer is in him."

"He can't hurt me. Not in there." She assures him.

"We don't know that." He argues, I can't help but agree, we don't know the extent of his powers.

Eleven shifts to hold the lanky teens hand and looking him square in the face, "I need you to trust me."

The Wheeler boy hesitates still, eyes sliding to the redhead next to me, who gives him the 'are you kidding me?' expression and prompting him to nod at El. "Yeah… just be careful," backing off afterwards to give her space to do her thing.

With the TV static in the background, Eleven tunes us out to test her theory while everyone else quietly sits or stands by. Myself unable to stay completely still and deciding to get up, plopping down at the table a minute later to clean my gun. I place it down with a small cleaning kit from overtop of the fridge and begin to dismantle it. Lucas joins me, his eyes watching the process and storing it for future reference.

By the time El reaches Billy, I'm long done cleaning and outside light is fading fast, evening rapidly approaching. After a worrying moment of whimpers, she appears to get through, landing on a beach from his memories and believing she's found the source, currently in the process of reaching it. Half-hour later, she mutters, "I think I found it…"

"Where El? Where are you?" Red quizzed.

"Brimborn Steelworks." Her words prompting Jon into action to grab the phone book and find the address.

The older Byers flips through, scanning the right section and reading it out loud, "found it. 6522 cherry oak drive."

"That's close," my mind already mapping out the fastest way to get there

"El, we found it. Get out of there." Mike tells the supernatural girl, waiting for her to rejoin us here and out of her mindscape.

When out of nowhere she begins to scream, fear and panic at an all time high in her voice, small hands ripping the blindfold free and frantically looking for comfort. The younger Wheeler doesn't hesitate in providing it, holding her and promising she's okay now..I cross over to them and kneel, wincing in the process of reaching for her hands to let her know I'm here.

"Sis… you're with us now. You're safe… what happened?" The look in her eyes haunting, instantly telling me that something wicked this way comes…