They entered the hotel room, the two kids immediately going to their rooms to change and recuperate. El closed her door quietly and took a deep breath. She couldn't quite shake off that feeling of uneasiness. She decided to go change into new clothes, hoping it would bring a welcome distraction.
She shuffled through her clothes finding a blue top, speckled with white paint splotches. She grabbed a pair of jeans and blue suspenders, then hurried off to the bathroom. After she had changed, she looked for a white scrunchie to put her hair up in a ponytail. As she put it up, she felt a longing for Max to be there to do it for her.
This summer had been nothing but normal which didn't surprise her at all. She finished up and had the great idea to go and watch some soap operas on the television. She didn't bother to grab the remote as she turned the t.v on with her powers. She curled up in a blanket and watched the images that flashed on the screen in front of her.
…..
"Dinner!" Joyce yelled from the kitchen. The smell of chinese takeout wafed into the living room. El jumped off the couch, switching off the t.v. with her powers as she passes it. In front of her, Will left his room, slamming the door behind him as he rushed towards the kitchen table.
They both reached the table as Joyce finished putting the takeout containers on the table. " Knock yourselves out." She laughed at the two as the kids immediately started grabbing containers and eating the warm delicious chinese food. A knock at the door caused Joyce to get up and open the door.
"Johnathan!" Joyce exclaimed in surprise. " I thought you weren't coming until next month." She told him, giving him a welcoming hug. " I wasn't but school let us out earlier than expected." He explained as he entered the hotel room. " We just started eating dinner. If you wanted anything I recommend you hurry. Those two are going to eat all the food."
Joyce led him into the kitchen were they found El laughing at something that Will had told her. "Hey." Jonathan announced himself causing both of them to stare at him. " You're back!" Will exclaimed, unable to hide his excitement. " Yeah, I'm back." Jonathan smiled at his younger brother as he ruffled his hair. " El, how are you?" He asked her as he sat down and stole one of the chinese containers from Will who didn't protest at all.
"Good." Her and Johnathan haven't talked to him too much causing El to still be cautious around him, Part of her wished that she could get to know him more but part of her was just content with knowing Will. " Can we go to Mike's?" El asked as she finished eating.
"Let the rest of us finish eating and then I can take you." Joyce stated. El nodded her head feeling content with her answer. " I'll take them, mom." Jonhthan offered. " Are you sure?" "Yeah. I'll be able to talk to them on the ride there." " Thank you." Joyce said smiling.
….
As Johnathan drove the two to Mike's house, El didn't say a word. She had a bad feeling the whole way there. Will wouldn't stop talking the whole drive and she couldn't be more thankful. But she couldn't help but notice the goosebumps that were on the back of his neck. It made her feel like she wasn't the only one who had a bad feeling.
" El, you've been quiet. You okay?" Jonathan asked. " Yes." Was all she said as they came up to the house. " Alright well I'll see you all later tonight." He told the kids as they got out of the car. " Bye." Will respond. They watched as he drove off.
"Hey!" Max yelled as she rushed up to the two. " Hi." El responded. They all walked behind the house and headed to the back door that opened up into the basement. Max opened the door and let Will and El go in first, her following close behind.
They looked around the basement, not seeing Mike. "Mike!" Will yelled. "Coming. Give me a sec!" He yelled. All of them sat down on the couches and waited. El and Max started talking leaving Will to his own thoughts. Lucky for him he didn't have to wait long for Mike to show up.
" We have to come up with a plan." Mike announced as he walked down the basement steps. " So if you have any ideas shout them out." He told the group. " What if I go into the void and give you the directions of the lab." El thought out loud.
Mike gave her a look while the other two gave thought to her idea. " I think you should come with us. Your powers would come in handy." Max announced. " I disagree with Max." Make stated. " I mean that could be useful." Will retorted. " Well what if I tell you directions so you can write them down. Then I can come and help." El suggested. " That could work." Will agreed. " I agree." Max said.
Everyone turned to Mike to see what he would say. " Okay." He sighed. He got up from where he sat and grabbed a walkie talkie, handing it to El. She took it from him and grabbed a handkerchief from the side table. She sat down cross legged on the floor messing with the dials trying to find static. As she did that everyone looked around for paper and makers so they could make a map.
El found what she was looking for and decided to wait patiently as everyone looked for supplies. " We're all set." Mike announced as they sat down at the table that they usually played DnD at. El nodded, placing the handkerchief over her eyes, tying it off in the back. Soon she found herself in Hawkins lab in the exact same place she was at the first time she was there.
The dark hallway with flashing lights and glass on the ground. She walked down the hall and turned left and then to the staircase. She went down the steps all the way to the bottom and opened the door. She headed straight.
" Turn right." She told them as they jotted it down. " Door, right." They drew that too. She took off the blind fold then joined them at the table. She studied all their drawings. When her eyes landed on Will's she became impressed by how accurate it was. "Use this one." She told them pointing at him.
There was a knock at the back door. They all looked towards the door on edge, remembering last time someone knocked on that door. Will was the one who was brave enough to open it. His hand shook as he reached for the door knob. Everyone watched in anticipation as Will turned the door knob. Jonathan was standing there waiting patiently.
" What are you doing here so early?" Will asked his older brother. " Just thought I'd pick you up early. Maybe we could spend some brotherly time together." He explained. Will looked at his friends in silent permission. " It's okay." Mike told him. " Okay." Will told his brother as he looked back at him. Eleven got that bad feeling again.
" Will." She called out before he could leave. She grabbed the walkie she was using earlier and handed it to him. " In case of trouble." She told him. "Thanks." He hugged her. She nodded as he pulled away. She watched him as he walked away, getting into the car. She closed the door behind him.
"Are you okay, El?" Mike asked her. She sat down where Will sat moments ago and sighed. " Somethings wrong." She told the both of them. The crackle from the walkie made all of them rush over to it. " El help. It's the bad men." El jumped up and rushed out the door.
She ran out into the street seeing Johnathan's car. She grinded her feet, held out her hand, focusing on stopping that car. She saw the wheels of the car lift off the tarmac. The wheels started to let off smoke as the back door of the car opened and Will jumped out.
He immediately started sprinting towards her as she let go of the car. She heard it thunk back to the ground. "Will." Came Mike's and Max's voices from behind her. Will was about five feet away from them when a dark smoke came from the car, speeding towards him. El immediately used her powers to hold it back when the smoke started to fight back.
El held her ground, them both pushing each other with their powers. A splitting piercing sound inside her head caused her to grab her head in pain. She let out an ear piercing scream as the piercing sound got sharper and louder. Tears streamed down her face as she crumbled to the ground in pain.
The smoke found this as an opportunity to rush towards Will. " Look out!" Max screamed as her and Mike rushed against the smoke to get to Will first. Will picked up his speed but the smoke was too fast for him. It scooped him up engulfing him in a whirlwind of smoke and disappeared.
The two looked at each other in disbelief and horror at the disappearance of their friend. The sound of heavy breathing and crying made the two turn around to find El. MIke ran up to her scooping her up in his arms. He looked her over seeing a bloody nose and blood dripping from her ears. He whipped the tears from her face causing her to look up at him.
"I'm sorry." She whispered ashamed that she wasn't able to save Will. "El." He helped her to her feet. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry." The more she said it the more tears poured down her face. "What are you sorry for?" Mike asked her as he pulled her into a hug. " I couldn't save him." " But we're going to get him back." Max stated. El nodded wiping the tears from her eyes.