The trio turned back into the trailer and headed for Eddie's bedroom, being careful not to step on any of the vines to alert the Demobats to their presence too early. Eddie headed straight over to the far side of his room where his guitar sat, almost framed by vines. He admired it, running his hand over the strings before pulling it from the mirror.
"It's like she was destined for an alternate dimension…" He said, breathlessly. "What do you say? Are you ready for the most metal concert in the history of the world?"
Nat took the ladder one rung at a time. She climbed slowly and took in the scene around her, the sky was still streaking with red, thunder still rumbled mercilessly across the landscape and yet, not a single Demobat to be seen. She pushed herself up onto the trailer and moved over towards the speakers. Eddie followed her up, guitar slung over his back, followed by Dustin. He walked over to where Nat was standing, reached his hand into his pocket and pulled out a dark red bandanna, Nat tilted her head to one side, slightly amused as he held it out to her.
"What is this, Karate Kid?" She said as he rolled his eyes.
"Metal bat battles require serious headgear." He said, wrapping it gently around her head, he tied it twice at the back for good measure. "There, much better." Nat chuckled at him.
"You practiced enough for this?" She asked.
"Are you kidding?" He replied. "I practiced specifically for a rooftop trailer park showdown."
"Good," She smirked, "I'll never let you forget it if you miss a chord."
To their left, they heard the crackle of the walkie at Dustin's hip. Robin's voice came quickly through to them. "She's in, start phase three."
"Copy that," Dustin said. "Initiating phase three." He nodded to Nat, who's eyes flicked up to Eddie's.
"Knock 'em dead." She said, turning and crouching to the extension cord which they had left unplugged.
"Let's hope they hear this." Dustin said as she clipped the two ends together. The amps whirred into life, growing louder as Dustin turned the volume up to max. The feedback crackled in Nat's ears. Eddie pulled the guitar pick from the chain around his neck.
"Chrissy, this one's for you." He strummed once, hard. The chord blasted out from the amp causing the roof beneath Nat's feet to rumble. Then he unleashed himself upon the guitar.
Nat watched as Eddie's hands moved skilfully along the neck of the guitar, the chords of Master of Puppets echoing out into the abyss that was the upside down. Nat found it almost impossible to take her eyes off him, but every now and then she flicked her eyes out across the sky, watching desperately for the swarm of Demobats that would come to end the concert. The sky rumbled and crashed with thunder, as if the Upside Down was trying so desperately to drown out the sound of Eddie's guitar. The sky crackled scarlet and in the distance an ominous black cloud became hesitantly clear. Through it all Eddie continued to play.
"Dustin!" Nat called over the noise, as she pointed to the sky. He followed her finger with his eyes and nodded. The cloud grew closer and closer, breaking up into individual forms.
"Eddie!" Dustin called to him, getting to his feet. Eddie looked over at them, though he never faltered from the song. Nat could hear the freakish chorus of shrieks merging with the chords. "We gotta lock down in T-minus thirty seconds!" He nodded and almost as if the timing was perfect, his fingers rushed up and down the strings in the most masterful guitar solo Nat had ever witnessed. James Hetfield would be proud, she thought, mesmerised.
"T-minus, twenty!" Dustin called again, Nat was on her feet, her chest pounding. She could see each one of them clearly now, vicious black masses against the burning red of the sky. She took in a deep calming breath.
"T-minus ten!" One, last, ferocious, rift.
"Five!" Nat was bouncing on the balls of her feet. They were so close now, so dangerously close.
"One!" With one last blazing chord, Eddie pulled the guitar from his shoulders, slamming it to the ground.
"Go!" He yelled. Nat started forwards, there was no time for the ladder. "Move! Move! Move!" She jumped down onto the metal canopy, sliding a little before jumping down onto the roof of the car parked in front of it. The impact rattled her knees, but she didn't stop.
"Come on!" She cried behind her, two echoing thuds meant they weren't far behind. Scrambling down onto the dirt she pelted up the steps of the trailer, Dustin on her heel.
"Hurry up, Eddie!" Shut it!" Nat turned just in time to see Eddie slam the mesh door closed behind them and the bats that crashed into it less than a second behind them. He didn't stop to admire them, continuing into the trailer and slamming the door closed. Breathless, heart pounding Nat let out a bubbling laugh. They did it.
"Most. Metal. Ever!" Dustin cried as Nat's laugh turned into a shriek, a cry of relief, of pure joy. They grabbed one another, shaking themselves, jumping extatically to the sound of caws.
"Holy shit. Holy shit!" Nat was gasping as they stopped. "Eddie that was incredible- I mean- I-"
She had no idea what came over her in that moment, but it did, it didn't matter that Dustin was there. She reached out, grabbing Eddie by the collar of his leather jacket, pulling him into her, crashing her lips against his.
This was something else, she felt his shock then his response as he snaked his hands around her, resting one on her lower back, pulling her into him. Her lips moved quickly against his, barely taking a moment to catch her already hitching breath, it was desperate, frantic. When Eddie pulled away from her, eyes sparkling, a smile widening broadly across his face, Nat barely heard the stuttering of Dustin beside them.
"Well that's a development." He stammered, glancing between the both of them. Nat smiled at Eddie, then turned to Dustin, dropping her hands from the leather jacket.
"Yeah, you could say that." A loud bang on the ceiling of the trailer made them jump. Bang. Bang. Bang.
"I'd hate to ruin the moment." Dustin continued, "But these guys really wanna get in."
"Battle stations." Eddie said, heading to where they had stashed their spears and trash can shields. He handed the spear to Nat, fingers brushing up against hers, he held them there for a split second longer than he needed to, a reassuring touch. When this is all over, she thought, hoping he could read them.
They stood then, back to back, shields and spears raised defensively as the booms and crashes grew louder and louder around them. The trailer was lit every few seconds with the dim red glow from the outside.
Then, as if the bats had just simply vanished, the noise stopped. Nat was keenly aware of the sound of her own breathing. "What if they've gone?" She whispered.
"Hey! Dipshits!" Dustin hollered, shaking his spear. "Give up that easy, huh?"
"Shhh!" Eddie silenced him. "Is that really necessary?"
Boom.
Nat looked up, as if she could follow where they were by the sound of their claws upon the roof.
"They're on the roof." Eddie muttered.
"No shit." She said.
"Shit. Shit. Shit. Shit. Shit." Dustin started to pace forwards, never taking his eyes off the ceiling as he moved. Nat and Eddie followed behind him, taking one slow step at a time. The ceiling creaked and rattled as the swarm picked their way above them. Dustin stopped, causing Nat to nearly bump into the back of Eddie. Dustin raised his spear, Nat followed its direction with her eyes.
"They can't get in through there, can they?" He asked. The vents.
Nat jumped back as the cap exploded from the vent. The first of the swarm slamming its grizzly head down into the trailer. Dustin and Eddie cried out in tandem, lunging forwards with their spears, stabbing, slashing, piercing, killing.
"Die! Die! Die!" Dustin was screaming.
A second bat jammed its head through the vent now, trying desperately to push its way into the trailer. Nat was gripping the trash can lid so tightly her knuckles were turning white. Shield.
"Eddie!" She called, throwing him the lid. He caught it, sensing her idea.
"Eddie! I need you!" Dustin called, still stabbing furiously at the assailants.
"Get out the way!" Eddie called, Dustin moved and Eddie yelled up at the Demobats as he plunged the shield over the vent cover. Nat heard the squelch as the spikes connected with flesh. He held the shield there, tentatively releasing it one hand at a time to make sure it held. The trio were panting breathlessly.
"Holy shit." Eddie muttered.
"Nice job." Dustin said, leaning back onto the countertop.
Nat glanced around, eyes scanning the ceiling, again it had gone eerily quiet. She took several steps towards the back of the trailer, pacing towards Eddie's bedroom.
"Eddie," She asked, her voice low. "Are there any other vents in here?"
"Shit." He cursed. "Nat!" His footsteps pounded down the hall as she crossed the threshold of his bedroom, the vent in the floor burst open before she could react.
The swarm burst forth, flocking wildly around the room, Nat threw her hands up as Eddie pulled her back by her shirt. He pushed her behind him, grabbing the door as the first of them crashed into it, splintering the wood.
They backed down the hallway as fast as they could, never taking their eyes from the door which was bulging on its hinges. Eddie grabbed another shield from the floor as he passed the counter it lay against.
Nat turned, looking up at the sheet that still hung from the ceiling, the route back to Hawkins. They had to go, they had to go now.
"That's not gonna hold!" Dustin cried, his voice frantic.
"Go!" Nat shouted at him, pointing to the rope. Dustin grabbed hold, climbing as fast as he could, spear abandoned on the ground.
"Let's go!" Eddie was standing, shield raised against the door. Nat watched as Dustin toppled over himself, falling onto the awaiting mattress. She gripped the sheet in her hands and pulled, rising, rising until she felt the pull of gravity from the other side. She rolled over, landing with a thud on the mattress. She got to her feet quickly, eyes on the ceiling, on Eddie who had two hands on the rope…
"Eddie, come on!" Dustin called.
He looked down at them both, hands held steady, not moving. The crashes of the bats on the door were so loud they echoed around both trailers.
"Eddie!" He looked back at the door, then back to Nat, he was so close. Dustin was shouting frantically. Nat's gaze never left his. "Eddie! Come on! Get out of there!" He released his hands, feet dropping back onto the mattress. "What are you doing?!" Nat cried, her voice becoming shrill with panic. She watched, helplessly as he turned away from them, picking up the spear that Dustin had discarded on the mattress.
"No! No!"
He yelled once, slashing at the sheet, it split in two and tumbled from the ceiling into Dustin's hands. The panic was rising in Nat's throat so fast, she thought she'd vomit.
"Eddie! Stop, please!" Nat was begging, her hand reaching up towards the gate towards him. "Eddie, please, just stop!" Her eyes were filling, he was looking at her so gently it hurt. "Eddie, please! Eddie! Just- Just let me save you!"
He smiled at her, his eyes glistening with unshed tears. "You already did." And he was gone.