They walked along the old railroad. The kids were walking in front while Diane and Steve took the rear, herding them forwards. To their credit they were all following the path.

"How long has this been going on?" Diane asked.

"Started last year. Then we defeated the Demogorgan — which is a really weird name, but the little shitheads are somehow in charge of the naming; it's easier just to go along with it — it was supposed to be over." He said. Wait, was a demogorgan the same as a demodog?

Diane couldn't believe Steve had been so ready to take on a demodog just to protect the kids. He'd stood in front of all of them, baiting the animal. There hadn't been an ounce of hesitation in his actions. They still weren't going to be friends, but he had her respect, for whatever that counted for.

But he'd dealt with one of these before. She never knew. Then again, no one did.

"We?"

"The kids, Nance, Jonathon, Will's mom, even Chief Hopper."

The information was so shocking she stood on the tracks for a moment, before her feet took her forwards again, one foot in front of the other while the gears in her mind began whirring. "Is Barb—"

"One of them took her." Steve bit out, thrusting his hands into his jacket pocket.

The truth of Barbara Holland sucked the warmth out of her, leaving in its stead a cold, somber reality. Barb wasn't missing. She was dead, and her parents were still trying to look for her. "Was it the Shadow Monster?" She asked, still unsure what that meant.

"No. A demogorgan took her into the Upside-Down, where this Shadow Monster thing is." He said. Chief Hopper wasn't doing anything to find Barb because there was nothing he could do, not without roping in the Hollands to what was really happening here. Her fate was more horrifying than they could fathom.

She nodded slowly. ". . . where is the Upside-Down, exactly?"

"Sort of everywhere. It just appears."

"Okay." She answered, the word long and drawn out. It was the most unconvincingly pitiful sound that had ever left her lips.

"Just go with it, it's easier that way." Steve said.

They walked wordlessly for a minute, looking at the kids ahead. Max's pace was off, like she wanted to run off but her pride kept her from bolting.

If everything weird that had happened in Hawkins the past year could be attributed to the Upside-Down, then everything became much simpler and suddenly a whole lot messier.

In sheer desperation to at least pretend there was a return to normalcy in her near future, she thought of the information she'd learned tonight. "Sorry to hear about you and Nancy."

His voice was smooth as he tried to hide the heart-break. "Seriously it's only been a few hours, how does everyone already know?"

"It's Hawkins High. Wildfire spreads slower than gossip does. Except for the best kept secret in town: The Upside-Down." She replied.

"People like stupid shit, not real shit." He said, then sighed. "At least Nance is probably with him safe inside."

They fell into silence after that.

Diane picked up her pace, catching up to Max whose hands were stuffed into her green pockets. As soon as they matched their step they easily outpaced the boys, leaving them much farther behind. Max was silently eager to get into the car and away from this place.

Max would much rather have had this be some weird elaborate boys prank than what it really turned out to be. This was crazy; this town was crazy; this state was crazy.

Both Diane and Max were so lost in their own thoughts they weren't realising the way their pace sped up even farther. For her smaller size, Max took surprisingly large strides.

Something seemed to drag Max out of her mind as she turned her head to look at Diane, then she scrunched her nose. "Billy's gonna be pissed you stole his jacket. He doesn't like girls wearing his things." She said, matter-of-factly.

A crease appeared between her brows. "He gave it to me. I'm giving it back of course. I just forgot I was wearing it, honestly."

She was met with silence as Max was pulled deep into thoughts again. She glanced at Diane, but said nothing. The trees thinned until they were walking down the hill and onto the familiar Henderson driveway, right where the car was parked. Ms. Henderson still wasn't home. Her ladies evening must be particularly exciting tonight.

"Wait, where'd they go?" Max asked.

Diane turned around to see the group had disappeared. "I have no idea. But there weren't any screams so they went voluntarily."

Max didn't seem all too bothered that she was separated from her friends, but Diane's mind was too crowded to take that information in and analyse it.

Wherever they had veered too, Steve Harrington better be taking care of them. Diane might not have been there to babysit on time, but Steve didn't need to indulge Dustin in her absence. For the love of all things holy, she hoped they weren't going anywhere near the laboratory.

After tonight she still knew there was a chance Dustin and his friends could end up at the Energy Department together with those men who looked human, but whose humanity had long been removed. But if they were quiet about it, they could avoid being on their radar.

Right by the garage was Diane's car. Max whipped her head towards the late babysitter, silently demanding an answer to the destroyed car.

"Uhm, did this happen with Billy?" Max eyed her suspiciously. Clearly Max had placed her in into her brothers hook-ups category and had decided she wasn't trustworthy. Diane couldn't blame her.

"Your brother's distracting, but he's not that distracting." She said. "It was a demon-dog— sorry, demodog that hit the car."

Max was hesitant to get into the car. "Does this even still work?"

"Let's find out." Diane sighed, jerking the door open. It groaned, the metal hinges were clinging on for dear life and she'd be impressed if they even lasted the entire ride to the Hargroves.

With the utmost distrust she slid into the seat, having no faith it would make it all the way back home.

"You'll need to give me directions. Do you know the way from here?" Diane asked.

Strapping herself tightly in, Max nodded.

She glanced one last time in the rearview mirror before starting up the car, which spluttered to life and she winced. Yeah, it was in desperate need of repairs. Steve still hadn't appeared and reluctantly she started up the car.

No way was she taking Max through a wild goose chase in the dark woods knowing what was out there. At least she could round one kid up for now. One was still better than none. But all of them was the goal.

Max was staring out the window, paler than usual. Her hands were unconsciously gripping the seatbelt tightly, knuckling whitening gradually. The radio was off, but Max didn't seem to mind the silence unlike her older brother who seemed unable to sit through it.

"Max, you were super brave tonight." Diane asked, glancing at her. "You were cooler than most people would be. If you think something like that's going to happen again . . . look, I know you don't know me, and I'm also not your babysitter or anything, but you can call me, okay?"

"Why? Because I can't handle it on my own?" She snapped, and she saw the mirror image of Billy as she rose to the challenge, indignant it was even being presented in the first place.

"What? No, because it's dangerous and you could get hurt." Diane answered.

Max shrugged, but seemed stubbornly set on proving exactly the things she was told she couldn't do. Or rather, the things she thought people were insinuating she wasn't capable of.

"You shouldn't trust my brother you know." Max's eyes were trailing the fractures in the glass.

Diane winced and gripped the back of her head for a moment. Then she forced herself to try and ignore it, focusing on the dark road ahead as she listened for the odd direction from Max. "In what way?"

"He doesn't really do people." Max replied.

She didn't either, really. It was an unexpected place to find common ground with Billy Hargrove on. She supposed if they were both achieving their goal of hiding behind closed doors, then the strategy on how they achieved those means weren't all too relevant.

"He told me he doesn't do friends." Diane said.

"Yeah, he doesn't do family either." Max muttered. Before Diane could respond Max pointed towards a house, "stop here."

Diane didn't slow down in time, and missed it. With a sigh she backed up. Dulwiche Hill. She hadn't expected him to live here. The house was average looking from the outside, albeit smaller than most houses in Hawkins. But this wasn't the nicest part of the neighbourhood. Owning a Camaro, she would've thought his family was a little more affluent.

She winced again as the pain flared up in protest, refusing to be ignored.

Max hopped out, and after considering for a moment, closed the door extra gently. Max was halfway up the pathway when she stopped and looked behind her. "Aren't you coming?"

"Just making sure you're inside safe. Sorry if its overbearing, I get it you're all in eighth grade and can handle yourselves. But tonight I don't feel that bad about it."

Max's brow furrowed. "But you're bleeding, and you really don't look good."

"It's nothing."

Max gave her a hard look; she was completely and utterly not convinced. "Just quickly, you can't drive off like that. I'm sure even Hawkins has rules about how much of a drunk driver you can act like on the road."

She didn't think she'd ever pair the words harsh and worry together, but Max's words were ones of harsh worry. They gave off a thin veneer of apathy, but she could feel the undercurrent of concern in her words.

Diane's eyes lingered on the door. It should be fine, right? Billy still had to be out with Andie. With a small sigh, Diane hauled herself out of the drivers seat. Then she gripped the door as her entire body spasmed in pain.

With the adrenaline and shock wearing off, she was being very sharply reminded of the eventful time her body had gone through tonight.

Max waited for her before she walked the rest of the way. Then she peaked in through the window, then nodded to herself before she strode over to the door and knocked on it several harsh times. Like Billy'd leapt from his position in the living room, the door swung a split second later.

Billy's eyed narrowed as he stepped forwards into the doorframe, blocking entry. "And just where in the fuck have you been?" He snarled, but a breathe he'd been holding for far too long was released forcefully with relief.

Then he took in her dishevelled state and wide eyes.

"What happened?" He asked sharply, before his eyes snapped up take in Diane's state. His brows shot up into his hairline. Her hand curled further into a fist as she hid the blood on her fingers.

"None of your business." Max said.

"You're on my doorstep—"

"Our." Max said.

He ignored her, "— and you're bringing someone onto my porch. So yeah, it's my damn business."

His face was so cold and blank she had no idea what he was thinking as he turned to look at Diane, his words came out in a low voice. "This isn't a hotel, you need to leave."

She blanched at his hostility. They hadn't left the diner on the best of terms, and she was sure he wouldn't throw her a second glance when they saw each other in the hallways or bumped into each other in class. But it hadn't been that bad. Max was looking between the two of them.

Couldn't he at least see Max was besides herself and needed help? "I know, I will. I just need something to stop the bleeding."

Billy glanced behind the both of them like he was expecting someone.

For a moment his expression morphed into concern before the walls of contempt were erected again. "That sounds like a you problem. A you problem you can sort in your own house."

She stared at him. He was never known for his outwards show of empathy by any means. But he'd been showing glimpses into a rare gentler side of him throughout the night. Now he was being hostile like a cornered animal.

This angry was uncharacteristic, even for him. All of his volatility was spontaneous and combustable, this felt like a deeper, more entrenched toxic undercurrent that had festered for years.

"I never should have hit you. A lot's happened tonight but I shouldn't have taken it out on you. I'm sorry. I'm— I'll leave now." She said quietly, and she hoped he saw the sincerity burning in her eyes because she meant every word.

Something flickered in his expression, a conflict taking place within threatening to erode his stone cold expression.

"Just for five minutes, Billy. She's hurt and I don't know how to clean her up, or whatever." Max pleaded. "Neil's not home yet."

His eyes flashed with something dark; before she could figure it out it was gone.

Diane didn't know if she had the courage to get back to her big incredibly quiet and isolated house now, but at this point she was surely close to antagonising him with her presence after what she'd done.

"I - I'll explain all of it later if you want." Her head felt like a jackhammer was drilling into her skull. "Promise."

He put his hands on his hips and looked up at the ceiling, letting out a huge gust of air. "Fuck, alright, come on. But we need to make this fast."

Max wrestled around him and he scowls at her but doesn't put up a fight, doesn't even touch her as she goes hunting for tissue paper and a bandaid or two.

It's only the two of them now, staring at each other. Billy was here. His breathe held the faint tang of beer and as usual the smell of constant burning cigarettes clung to him, fighting to dominate against his fading cologne. She never thought she'd be as glad as she was to have those familiar scents.

Blue eyes were staring into hers, trying to discern her current emotional state. With the acceptance that she was going to step into the Hargrove threshold, the ice had melted to reveal the concern that swam deep for her.

Then she threw herself at him, needing something immovably strong to anchor herself to for a moment. Her arms were around his neck.

He stiffened at the sudden constant. Then his arms wrapped around her, one hand sliding across her shoulder and threading through her now wild hair. "Hey, easy." He murmured.

For the first time in a long time, she felt safe as strong arms locked around her. Here, she could turn her back from the horrors of the outside world.

It didn't last long as a whimper escaped her when his hand rose too far and touched the swelling on the back of her neck.

He pulled back and looked at her, hand on each of her smaller shoulders. "Come on."

They stepped inside and Max closed the door behind them, arm carrying some supplies.

Hawkins Energy Department

Tonight had been more exciting than Edgar had experienced in a long time. Not that he got to be a part of it, of course. Instead he was stuck in the surveillance room, feet propped up on a table and staring at the monitors with glazed eyes.

The only other person in the room with him on the farthest side she could be, was Sheila Adkins. They weren't on good terms after she'd reported him for abusive language. It wasn't his fault Adkins couldn't take a joke. Clearly she couldn't let her hair down, figuratively and literally. Now they were stuck working overtime because some little mutant weirdo was causing some issues. It was beyond him how scientists spent so much time trying to understand things when they could just shoot at them instead.

Only the static of the monitors kept the silence at bay. No radio worked this damned far below ground. Then he leaned forwards. More drama on that little zombie freak. Now he was thrashing in his gurney. He'd seen people with seizures act less dramatic. Rolling his eyes he leaned back in the chair.

He'd been working more hours than he was getting paid at this point with no sign of being able to leave. The pay was shit too. All he wanted was to get home, grab a TV dinner and a beer, and sit down and watch The Dukes of Hazard.

But he wasn't going to be complaining tonight. Oh woah no, not after what had happened to those two employees who'd gone into to town and fucked up. He didn't know what it was they were caught for, everyone was tight lipped, and that meant it was bad enough. They were dragged somewhere down the hall and then they disappeared. Now, if they needed someone to help in the interrogation room, he wouldn't mind leaving this room to do just that.

Light flooded the room as the door was opened without hesitation. Matthew, his super officer glared at him, holding a clipboard with a couple of papers attached. Fucking finally. He stood up sharply.

The first page held a photo of a girl on it. "Bring her in. Immediately."

Sheila freakin' Adkins could take over surveillance here. He was going out to do a real job. Now she could bitch about work place violations into an empty room.

"Sir what about the Beyers boy?" He asked.

"What about him?"

"Don't we need all hands on deck?" Edgar couldn't help the sardonic tone laced with his words. This 'special' kid was turning this place into a circus for nothing.

"Follow your orders."

He scrutinised the photo. "What's this chicks deal?"

"She's an experiment. Handle her with caution. Your unit is already outside." He said, eyes looking pointedly at the file, fully expecting him to read it before he got into the van. Edgar gave Matthew a tight lipped smile.

Overworked and underpaid. But this, this might just make up for it. Another experimental freak to bring back into the fold. He didn't suppress his gleefully smile. "Yes sir, right away sir."

A/N: I think the show established this season that the road was called Cherry Road, but I came up with this name a few months prior and I'm sticking with it. With that exception, I am trying to stick to all other show facts.

MulishaMaiden: And Diane is already separated from Steve. Their story together is not done, but they're both finding out who they are as people and right now they're not quite in the same place. Her powers grow and expand throughout this story and it'll be fun to see the interactions she has with people and how she ends up using it.

crzychigurl343: The idea made me giggle. Billy is on the road to jealousy without realising it, and he'll definetly have a comment about her spending time fending off demon-dogs/demodogs with Steve. The three of them arriving in the car together would've pulled some great interactions between them, but it just didn't work out that way. But their paths may cross in the future.

I-am-sarah123: One can always dream

SuzyQBeats: Your comments keep me motivated

Wasabimomi: Here is more!

Izzy: Your comment was so kind and thank you. I can't wait until all of the characters begin having more interaction with each other. Right now it's still part one which is just centred on the hectic 24 hours that happened in ST2 and everyone's quite split up from each other. Diane's ripples in the stories original plot are beginning to make waves and will have more obvious consequences on the story in a few chapters time.