Wow, fifty chapters in...anyways, here's the next chapter! Enjoy!
During the drive to the Lab, Terry, Hopper, and Mike were silent. Hopper was driving, Mike was in the passenger's seat, and Terry sat in-between them. The boy was looking out, all of them feeling the tension in the air. Not just from what hell they're going to get themselves into again...but also some unspoken words.
"So, we're not gonna talk about it, huh?" Hopper suddenly asked. Both Terry and Mike looked at him.
"What?" the dark-haired boy asked.
"Oh, I dunno, why you look like some punk on MTV."
Terry scoffed and looked at Mike. "I've been wondering about that too," she added. "I know we don't have that kind of clothing in your closet." The boy just sighed and looked out the window. She frowned and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Hey, I'm not mad at you."
"Neither am I, bud," Hopper added, looking at him for a second. "We just wanna know where you've been, okay?"
He guessed that seemed fair. After all, they were also the reason he came back. He looked at the two of them and replied, "I went to see Mom." The two adults' blood ran cold by that, their eyes widening as they looked away from him. How did he...?
"Okay..." the man finally said to break the silence, glancing at Mike. "How'd you get there?"
He looked straight into his eyes. "A truck."
"A truck?" they both asked, looking concerned.
He nodded. "A big truck."
They were both silent at the moment, trying to process that. "Whose truck was it?" Terry asked.
"A man's."
Both looked even more concerned. "A man's?"
"He was a nice man." Now they had to piece together what he's just told them...
"Okay, so let me get this straight." Hopper looked at Mike again. "A nice man with a big truck drove you to your Mom's?" He nodded, making him look down the road again. "Okay, then what?" He didn't answer, worrying the two of them.
"What happened, Michael?" He still didn't answer.
"What? Your Aunt Giana gave you those clothes and hair?" The police chief's voice was dripping with sarcasm.
He took a deep breath, wondering if he should tell them about Nancy as well. They didn't really take the fact that he had a stranger drive to his mother's home, so he decided to not tell them right now. "I..." He looked at them solemnly. "I shouldn't have left." Silence roamed around the vehicle for a moment, the two adults collecting on how they should reply to that. Really, before they ended up in one of those tunnels, they parted from him on a bad note. To be honest...it wasn't his fault.
Hopper was the first to reply, shaking his head. "No...no, bud, it's not your fault," he said.
Terry was glad he was thinking what she was thinking. "We should've been there," she added, placing a hand on his shoulder again. She sighed and shook her head. "I should've said that your mom's not functioning right instead of being gone." With that, she removed her hand from his shoulder. The boy frowned, his eyes getting watery like hers was beginning to.
The man nodded. "Yeah...we shouldn't have lied to you like that."
"About your mom..."
"And when you can leave." Now Hopper's eyes were getting watery as well. "Lot of things we both shouldn't have done." He shook his head again, looking distressed. "Especially me, since Terry isn't always around." They both looked at him, seeing that he was ready to burst into tears at any moment. "Sometimes, I feel like..." He sharply inhaled. "Like I'm this black hole or something."
The woman frowned, looking like she was going to cry too. "I feel that way sometimes too," she replied. "Especially now."
The boy looked saddened to see them like this, about to cry as well, but he had to ask. "What's a black hole?"
Terry sniffed and answered, "It's this...thing from outer space. It sucks everything towards it and...destroys it." A tear came out of her eye and she wiped it away. Mike was sad to hear that they both felt like they were destroying everything.
Hopper sighed, leaning back on his seat and sniffling. "Yeah...Sara had a picture about space. She loved it." She was surprised that he brought her up.
A tear rolling down his cheek, Mike asked, "Sara?" The man remembered that he didn't tell him about her, the two's eyes meeting each other. "Who is Sara?"
He took a deep breath and answered somberly, "Sara...Sara's my little girl." He looked towards the road once more. "She's my little girl." Little girl...
"Is she..."
He nodded before he could finish his sentence. "My daughter." Just thinking about her made a couple of tears roll down Hopper's cheeks.
"Wh-where is she?"
He sniffled once again, wiping his tears away. "Well, here's the thing, kid. Unlike your mom, she's actually, uh..."
Mike figured what he was going to say, making him feel really bad for him. "Gone." He didn't even say that as a question, only a statement because it seemed that way.
Hopper looked at him once again, drawing his lips to a thin line and looking back at the road. "Yeah...gone. The black hole got her." Terry rubbed his arm to comfort him, a couple tears running down her cheeks as well. Mike looked ahead, feeling absolutely awful that Hopper lost his daughter like that. Nancy had said something similar about Holly. "And...somehow...I've just been scared, y'know?" He sniffled again. "I've been scared that it'll take you too." The freckled boy glanced at him. "I'm sure Terry does too."
She nodded, turning her head towards the telekinetic boy. "Yeah...I...I almost lost my daughter to that bastard last year." He knew exactly what she was talking about, when the doctor had one of the soldiers drag Jane to him for experiments. "It was her or you and me and I..." She sniffled, crying again. "I would never forgive myself if I lost her. I would never forgive myself if I lost you."
"Me too. That's why we get..." He shook his head, trying to hold back more tears. "...so mad."
"So unreasonable..." Now they both cried, making Mike cry as well. "We can be so...so-"
"Stupid?" the boy finished for her.
They both chuckled at that, sounding like the best descriptor. "Yeah...stupid."
"Really stupid," Hopper added, him and Terry smiling sadly.
Mike smiled sadly as well, reaching and holding one of their hands. He held them tight as they did as well. They both looked at him as he replied, "I've been stupid too." Not only in running away twice, but also what he did to Will back at the school. Still...
Hopper's sad smile turned into a grin. "I guess we all broke our rule." Now the two others grinned.
"We did, didn't we?" Terry sniffled and wiped away her tears. "Nobody's perfect." To that, both of the males agreed. She moved her hand that was laced with Mike's, getting his attention. "By the way, I actually like your new look. You're rocking it." He chuckled and smiled at that compliment.
The man smiled again and looked at him. "Yeah, kid. You look like a badass." Just for this moment, Terry let the fact that Jim swore in front of the boy slide.
He knew he did and he was happy they both liked it. "Bitchin'."
While Terry looked shocked that the boy himself swore like that, Hopper chuckled again. "Sure, buddy. Bitchin'."
She decided to just play along and hug the boy. "Is that what you kids say for 'awesome' nowadays? I better not catch you teaching Jane that." Mike chuckled once again and hugged Terry as best as he could. They were all glad they were on good terms again. They all cared for each other very much and it would hurt them all to be bitter to one another again. Plus, bitterness wouldn't do them well when they reach to the Lab.
While Steve was reluctantly helping Dustin stuff the dead Demo-dog into the refrigerator, Lucas and Max were sweeping up the broken glass while Jane was pacing around, worrying about the rest of her family and Mike. It was clear to see on her face. The African-American boy sighed and said, "Jane, you can stop pacing now."
She did, but glared daggers at Lucas. "Oh, I'm sorry for worrying about Mike and Mama going to dangerous place SWARMING with those dogs!" she replied, frustrated.
"Demo-dogs!" Dustin corrected her from the kitchen.
"Listen, the chief will protect them," Lucas rebutted.
"Mike also has his powers, so..." Max added, shrugging a little. Sure, he does, but there was a limit...
Steve entered into the room, rubbing his hands with a kitchen cloth. "Okay, listen, a coach calls a play in the game," he began. "The bottom line is that you execute it, alright?"
She crossed her arms and rolled her eyes at him. "This isn't some stupid sports game, Steve. Also, we're not even in the game, we're on the bench." So that's why Kali says that Jane can be a bit of a bitch sometimes...
"Well, my point is..." He paused, the kids waiting for him to say something significant. He then just said, "Yeah, we're on the bench, so, uh, there's nothing we can do." The tomboy huffed, but Dustin's eyes twinkled in realization.
"That's not ENTIRELY true..." he said, everyone looking at him. "I mean, these Demo-dogs have a hive-mind, right?" He looked at Steve. "When they ran away from the bus, that's because they were called away."
The kids began to realize where Dustin was going with this. Lucas pointed at him. "So, if we get their attention..."
"We can draw them from the Lab..." Max added.
"So we can clear a path to the gate," Jane finished.
Steve scoffed. "Right, then we ALL DIE!" He spread his arms out.
The curly-haired boy raised his eyebrows. "Well, that's ONE point of view."
He shook his head at him. "That's not a point of view, man. That's a fact." This made Jane think of something, her gasping.
"Wait, I got it!" She walked towards the kitchen, the rest of the group following. They all got to the X as she pointed at it. "This is where Chief and Mama dug their hole, making this the only way to get to the tunnel. So..." She stood up and walked to another area. She stopped at the big blue spot in the living room, spreading her arms out to it. "This is like a hub, all the tunnels feed into here." She got on her knees and placed her hands on it, looking up at everyone else. "We can set this on fire."
Aaaaand that's why Kali says that Jane can be crazy. "Oh yeah, that's a NO." He pointed down at it.
The kids ignored him, however. "The mind flayer will call away his army..." Dustin stated.
"And they'd ALL come to stop us!" Lucas added enthusiastically.
"Hey..."
"Then we circle back to the exit," Jane suggested.
"Guys-"
"By the time we'll be gone..."
"Mike'll be at the gate," Max said.
Steve couldn't take it anymore, so he clapped his hands loud and shouted, "HEY, HEY, HEY!" They all looked at him, his face serious. "You guys aren't doing this." He moved his finger to the hub. "This isn't happening."
Jane looked upset at his reaction. "But-"
"No, no, no, no, no! No 'buts'! I promised to keep all you shitheads safe, especially YOU, Jane-" She rolled her eyes at him again, clenching her fists. "-and that's why what I plan on doing! We're all staying here, on the bench and waiting for the starting team to do their job!" The kids looked at him, disapproving and annoyed by his behavior. "Do you guys understand?"
"This isn't a stupid sports game, asshole," the curly-haired girl replied to him bitingly.
He didn't flinch or hold back, looking at her dead in the eye and asking, "I said, do you guys understand?!" None of them responded since they wanted to do this, especially Jane, but Steve was preventing them. Even though he's changed, he was still an asshole-
Every single one of them heard a car rev its engine, all of their thoughts coming to a halt. Max was the first to go to the living room since she recognized that sound, then Lucas. They both looked out the window, the red-haired girl stating in shock, "It's my brother." She backed away from the window, shaking her head as her voice was faltering. "H-he can't know I'm here. He'll kill me." He looked at Lucas, then everyone else. "He'll kill US." That sent shivers down the kids' spines, including Steve's. However, because he was their babysitter, he wasn't going to let this piece of shit lay a finger on any of them, no matter what it takes.
...
He got outside after he told those little shits to hide themselves. He placed his hands on his waist, taking a deep breath and looking as cool and confident as he could. He needed to look like he'll not run away from this jackass. When the car stopped, the driver came out...revealing to be Billy in some sort of dating outfit. He smoked his cigarette before grinning at the sight of him. "Well, well, I didn't expect to see part of the circus here," he said in a teasing voice.
Steve scoffed at that. "Yeah, I'm here, don't cream your pants," he replied plainly. Billy removed his jacket before the two walked towards each other, stopping at a good distance.
...
As they were talking, the kids couldn't help but peek over to see what was going on. To Dustin and Jane, Billy did look quite intimidating for a teenager. He looked like the asshole that almost ran them over on Halloween. Hopefully, Steve will drive him away and they wouldn't have to deal with him.
There was tension in the air as they got closer, Dustin whispering, "This is mental..." Max shushed him before they both looked at the window. The kids were quick to get out of sight really quick and hide on the couch. "Shit! Did he see us?!" They all sincerely hoped he didn't. Then they heard Steve getting shoved. He definitely knew.
They all got away from the window, Jane saying, "Let's get to the backyard." They all nodded as they were about to follow her there...
Then the door swung open, revealing the mullet-wearing teen himself. He took a drag of his cigarette, then had his eyes focused on Lucas. "If it isn't Lucas Sinclair..." he muttered as he slammed the door shut behind him and stormed to him and Max. He was so close, all of the kids felt like running...but they didn't. He looked at his stepsister and said, "I thought I told you to stay away from him, Max."
"G-go away, Billy," she stammered out, trying not to look scared in front of him.
"You disobeyed me, Max...and you know what happens when you disobey me."
Her fear, as well as everyone else's, was increasing by the second. "Billy-"
"I break things." In a mere second, he roughly grabbed Lucas and shoved him against a bookcase. The kids were yelling Lucas's name and at Billy to stop. They could see that he was struggling, but Billy kept him pinned and whispered things to him. All of them felt very tense as he then yelled, "STAY away from her, you understand?!" Jane knew Lucas was trying to hang out with Max, but damn...
"I SAID GET OFF ME!" the black-haired boy yelled as he kneed him at the groin. He screamed and let go of him, staggering back and holding his crotch a little. He sharply glared at Lucas as the other kids heard the door open, Steve coming inside. All of them gestured him to get Billy before he did anything more to Lucas, him nodding and storming up to him.
"You are so dead, Sinclair! So dead!" Steve grabbed his arm and made him turn to him, shaking his head.
"No, you are." He then threw a punch to his face, the kids' jaws dropping. The blonde-haired guy staggered back, but began laughing. As he was distracted, Lucas joined up with the rest of the group again, getting hugged by them.
He wagged his finger at the jock, his nose bleeding from the punch. "I wondered where the hell's that fire in you!" He spread his arms out. "I was waiting for this KING STEVE everyone's been talking about. Glad to see you break out of your circus life-" He got closer, but Steve pushed him away.
"Get out," he said to him coldly.
He didn't say anything for a few seconds, then threw a punch to him. He dodged it and gave him another punch at the face. This made the kids cheer on Steve. "YEAH, KICK HIS ASS, STEVE!" Dustin yelled out as he gave Billy another punch to the face. He was still laughing, staggering back on the sink. Steve punched him again, now having him backed up against the other sink.
"GET HIM! GET HIM!" Jane yelled.
"NOW! NOW!" Dustin also yelled.
"GET THAT SHITHEAD!" Lucas shouted.
Billy was still laughing like a psychopath, despite his face getting a bit more bloody. Steve was going to then finish the job, but he didn't see the plate Billy had in his hand. He crashed it against the side of his head, leaving him in pained daze as he staggered back.
"BILLY!" Max exclaimed, the kids looking shocked at what happened.
"STEVE!" the rest of the kids cried out.
"Oh my God..." Jane muttered before Billy stormed to him. The kids got back as Billy now threw a punch at Steve, making him stagger against another bookcase before another punch got him to the living room.
He roughly grabbed him and said to him bitingly, "No one gets to tell me what to do." He head-butted him to the ground, making him release a cry of pain. He wandered over to him. "WHOOO! GET UP!" The kids were yelling at Steve to get up and kick his ass, but he got on top of him and punched him in the face continuously. The kids were aghast, but still cheered on their babysitter to get up and fight him. His face was getting bloody, their worries skyrocketing like crazy.
Then, in what felt like a second, Max grabbed the needle used to knock out Will, uncased it, stormed to her stepbrother, and shoved it right into his neck, injecting the fluid into him. The kids stopped yelling and Billy stopped punching. The red-haired girl backed away from him as he stood up and looked at her and the kids...his vision becoming hazy. He grabbed the needle and slowly got it out of his neck, dropping it to the ground. He walked towards his stepsister, though it was on a limp.
"Th-the hell is this...?" he stammered out, now feeling sleepy. "What'd you do...you little shit...? What'd you..." He then fell back, the kids tensing up at that. He seemed to stay down, chuckling. Max then grabbed Steve's bat and held it up, looking at him with daggers in her eyes.
"From here on out, you leave me and my friends alone, you hear?" she asked him in a cold voice.
With half-lidded eyes, he muttered out, "Screw you..." She swung the bat down to him, the kids tensing up before seeing that it hit just below his crotch. Even he knew that would be a helluva lot more painful than Steve's punches.
She got it up again and said, "Did you hear me, asshole?! You'll leave us ALL alone! Say it! SAY IT!" The kids thought that she was being a badass here, standing up against her own piece-of-shit stepbrother like this.
He licked his split lip and muttered, "I'll leave you guys alone..."
She scoffed. "What was that? I couldn't hear you."
"I'll leave you guys alone." And with that, he was finally unconscious. Jane, Lucas, and Dustin were relieved as well as Max, who dropped the bat and got Billy's car keys out of his pocket. She held them up for her new friends to see.
"Let's get the hell out of here." The kids were still processing that intense moment of badass-ness that she had. They all looked at each other, thinking about what they should do about Steve when they're going with the plan...
The conscious Byers and Kali arrived at the cabin, grabbing all the heaters they had into it. Jonathan had his little brother in his arms. The dark-haired girl turned on the light, her and the Byers looking around. This seemed cozy, actually. She was surprised that her mom was involved in cleaning the cabin up for Mike. She shrugged. "Seems nice," she plainly stated, though they all knew it won't be for long.
Joyce found what was Hopper's bed and looked back at the teens. "We'll do it here," she told them.
...
They've removed all the sheets from the bed and laid Will on top of it. The teens tightly tied him up with rope while the woman put logs in the old-styled furnace. They set up all the heaters around him, looking to make sure it was all around him. Jonathan looked at his mother with a worried look and asked, "You sure this is going to work?"
She nodded, looking mad. "This monster has had Will long enough," she answered. "Let's kill that son of a bitch."
Just like that, Kali was given a box of matches, lighting a match up and throwing it into the furnace. The Byers turned on all the heaters to their high settings. They all took off their jackets since it'll become hot as hell in the cabin...hot enough for the Mind Flayer to get out of Will.
Hopper, Terry, and Mike finally arrived at the Lab premises, parking right in the middle of the parking lot. They all got out, Terry getting out at Mike's side. The freckled boy looked up at the building, feeling his blood run cold and his heart race from the sight of it. Never mind the Demo-dogs (that's what Dustin called them, right?), just looking at this place made him feel unnerved, his breathing becoming intense. He escaped from here...from all of that torment and neglect by two awful men.
Flashes of his time there ran through his head, from the cat he was supposed to kill hissing, to being carried away to that dark, cold room, to getting into the tank, to the walls cracking...to his screams.
Those flashes were gone when Hopper closed the trunk and had his shotgun over his shoulder. He and Terry walked to him and stood by his side. They looked up at the building as well, the police chief cocking the shotgun. "Okay, I'll do the heavy-lifting up front," he said to Mike. "Terry'll be next to me. Save your strength until we're below, alright?" He didn't answer, still looking up at the building. They looked at him worriedly.
"Are you okay, Mike?" Terry asked, putting her hand on his shoulder once again.
He just nodded and walked on forward. She sighed as she and Hopper caught up with him. They saw the look on his eyes...he was thinking about his history with this place...and that he'll shut it down, once and for all.
Growls were heard before they all finally went inside a different door Terry led them to.
And so it begins...how was this chapter? Any typos or mistakes I might've missed?
I hope I wrote that closure scene with Mike, Terry, and Hopper in the car well. Emotions were running high in the canon scene, so they are in this one, with Terry involved.
Not much change with Mama Steve trying to protect the kiddos other than telling Jane he needed to protect her especially and Billy still calling him part of the circus. Hope you guys don't mind that.
Follow, favorite, review, and I'll see you guys in the next chapter!