Karen Wheeler was a caring mother; at least she tried to be. It was hard when you had three kids, all of different points in their childhood, begging for different types of attention that was rightfully needed. At times she couldn't keep track of her days, waking at the same time every morning, and making sure that everyone in the house hold was happy and ready for their day. It was hard putting on a smile, when most of the time she just wanted to lay in bed until the sun went down. She thought she was a good mother, a mother that tried and was willing to listen to her children, but when she walked into Michael's room; finding it empty. She didn't know what to think, maybe he had woken up already, and maybe he was already down in the basement working on his board game. It wasn't until she walked into Nancy's room that she felt something was off. She walked down stairs, pulling her robe closer to her body as she listened to the stillness of her house.
The basement was cold and dark. There was no one there except for her and that made her feel weary to where her children might be. She looked around the living room, then into the kitchen and the breakfast table, finding that everything looked the same from when she went to sleep last night. Everything in the fridge was still in its place; nothing had been eaten or moved by her kids that morning.
She went back to Mike's room, noticing his walkie talkie sitting on the covers of his bed, his pajamas on the floor by his closet. She picked up his pajama pants, they felt cold. She turned around, walking back into Nancy's room. Her pajamas sat by her closet, her bed unmade; she always made her bed in the morning. She picked Nancy's pajamas up, holding her kids cloths in her hands as she looked around the room in confusion.
"Mommy!" Holly's voice yelled from her room. Karen jumped, almost forgetting about the small girl. She placed the clothes on Nancy's bed, heading down the hall to Holly's room. He young daughter sat in her bed, her blonde hair in a crazy mess on top of her head. The little girl looked tired, she had dried drool on her face, and her small bunny in her hands had two skewered ears.
"Hey baby," Karen said, grabbing her daughter from the small bed. "How did you sleep?" she asked with a smile.
"I had a dream about gumdrops," Holly said through a strained tired voice. Karen carried her to the bath room; getting her ready for the day. She turned the shower on, undressing Holly as she waited for the steam to build. "Are you ready for the snow?" Karen asked while she placed Holly into the shower.
"No," Holly said placing her head under the hot water. Karen rolled her eyes, knowing fully well how excited Holly was yesterday to have a snow ball fight. "I don't like the snow."
"You seemed excited for it yesterday," Karen said, pouring shampoo onto the girl's hair. She looked around the bathroom and she rubbed the soap through the long hair. Holly placed two hands over her eyes so she didn't get soap in them.
"No I wasn't," Holly said back. "Mike said he would beat me in snow ball fight." Karen rolled her eyes. She thought back to Mike's empty bed, thinking about the snow that sat outside; hoping that he was at least smart enough to dress warm before he went outside.
She took Holly out of the shower, fight her to get clothes on, and then she tried to calm the girl down as she cried about what shirt she was wearing.
"I don't like yellow," Holly cried as they walked down stairs.
"You said two days ago that yellow was a great color." Karen said back in the nicest voice she could create.
"No," Holly said through tears. "I hate yellow." Karen rolled her eyes as she put Holly in a chair at the dining room table. Ted's footsteps sounded down the stairs as Karen looked at the coffee pot, realizing she hadn't put the coffee on yet. She worked fast, filling the machine with water and ground coffee before pulling a pan from a bottom cabinet and eggs from the fridge. She listened to Holly's huffed breaths as the girl tried to calm her tears, Ted walked into the room with the new paper; taking a seat next to the small girl.
Karen watched as he opened his paper with no hesitation, leafing through the pages to find the sports section. He ignored Holly as she looked up at him, fresh tears in her eyes as she tried to pout at her father. Karen rolled her eyes, trying hard not to yell at the man before turning back to the coffee and filling a mug while the machine kept brewing.
She was half way to the table when she heard the doorbell ring. She stopped at the table, placing the mug of coffee by Ted, before looking at the hall way the led to the front door. She let her stomach drop slightly, thinking about the empty beds upstairs and how unusual it was that someone would be ringing their door bell so early on a Saturday.
She slipped out of the kitchen and down the hall, walking to the front door slowly as she realized she was still wearing her bath robe, her hair a mess on top of her head. She sighed as she unlocked the door, opening it slowly to the cold. Her eyes grew as she looked at a familiar sight. Men walked around her front yard, Hawkins Energy vans littered the street, and the gray haired man from a year ago standing on her front porch. He gave her a smile as she let a frown play on her face.
"Mrs. Wheeler," the man said to her. She looked back out into the front yard, the beautiful snow being stomped on as men walked around her house, looking through her windows and walking into her back yard.
"What are you doing?" She said in a harsh tone.
"It seems we have had a little hiccup," the man said. "May I come in side Mrs. Wheeler?" Karen looked back out to her front yard, before stepping aside and letting the man into her house.
…
Steve Harrington sat at the front desk of the Hawkins Police Department. He looked at the front door for the hundredth time, looking down at the pile of memos that kept building for Chief Hopper. He knew that Hopper liked to take his Saturdays slow, but by this time he was usually in, already eating a doughnut and smoking a cigarette. He glanced at his phone, not knowing how to get ahold of the man.
Luckily the day had been slow. Steve had made it in late because of the snow, and the only calls he was getting were about how the roads needed more salt. Ms. Penilton called about how the snow plows put more snow in her yard, and the only thing minorly bad was two cars running into each other at five miles an hour.
Steve sighed; listening to the policemen in the other room laugh at one another as they let the news play in the back ground. The phone at his desk started to ring, making Steve roll his eyes to who it could be. If someone called one more time to tell him there was too much snow on the side walk he was going to lose it.
"Hello, Hawkins Police Department, Steve Harrington speaking," he said lowly, grabbing a pencil and a sheet of paper to take down any notes. He heard a little shuffling on the other end before someone started talking.
"This is Karen Wheeler," Steve sat up straight, listening more carefully. Why was Nancy's mom calling? "There are men at my house," she continued in a hushed tone. "They say they work for the government, but they've been here before and I don't think they are." Steve dropped his pencil, standing from his seat and looking around him for his car keys. "My son and daughter are missing, and I think it has something to do with them. I didn't know who else to call."
"Just hang tight Mrs. Wheeler," Steve said over the phone. "I'll head right over." There was a moment of silence over the line. He could hear her place the phone on the receiver without saying goodbye. He looked around his desk, sliding papers in hope of finding his keys, before realizing they were in his pocket.
He drove fast, at least faster than he should in the snow. He slid to a stop in the slush road, the curb lined with white vans, men standing around the front yard. He rushed out of the car, walking up the front step as he side-glanced the men. One man with a long mustache stood in front of the front door, his arms crossed over his chest.
"Can I help you son," the man said to Steve. They glared at one another for a moment. Steve tried to collect his thoughts before stepping a little bit closer.
"Yes, I'm here to see Nancy." Steve said, looking all around the front of the house, watching as the men standing in the yard got a little closer. "I actually heard she was missing and thought I could help. I'm her boyfriend," he gave the guy a smile, looking behind him one more time.
"Well," the man said, stepping a little closer to Steve, "The Wheeler's are a little busy at the moment. I'm going to have to ask you to come back later." Steve glared at the man, trying to figure out another game plan. He let out a breathe; the puff of air dancing in front of his vision as he listened to the crunch of snow behind him. He watched as all the men circled around him, treating him like he was a threat. Was he, could he ever be?
Before he could even think of defending himself the front door opened, Mrs. Wheeler standing with a gray haired man. She locked eyes with Steve, her face filled with concern. Steve looked at the man that stood next to her; his face held a full smile as he looked back to Mrs. Wheeler.
"We'll be in touch," the man said. "Do know that your kids are our top priority." Mrs. Wheeler nodded he head as he took a step out of the door, looking at Steve with questionable eyes. "Steve Harrington," the man said. Steve raised his eyebrows, not knowing what to say. "I'm sure you remember some of these men from last year?" Steve looked around himself, all the men from the yard standing close behind him.
"I suppose," he said looking back at the gray haired man.
"Well, I assure you, we will find your girlfriend." Steve looked at the man, stepping past him as he walked inside.
"Well, I suggest you get to it," Steve said before slowly closing the door. He placed the lock in its socket, looking to Mrs. Wheeler who had tears in her eyes.
"Where's Nancy?" she asked, folding her arms across her chest. She still stood in her bath robe, her hair a nest on top of her head. The few times he had spent with Nancy family he had never seem Mrs. Wheeler so unorganized.
"I don't know," Steve said looking around the house. "Did those guys look around your house?" Mrs. Wheeler nodded her head, making Steve sigh. He looked at all the light fixtures and house décor, thinking of all the places they could have put bugs. "I think you and I should go for a drive," Steve said. Mrs. Wheeler looked down the hall, Holly bouncing her fork off the plate in the kitchen. He let out a long sigh.
"Ted!" she called down the hall. There was no answer as she made her way to the stairs. "Ted!" she yelled louder.
"What?" he sang in an annoyed voice.
"I think I'm going to head out for a little bit," she paused in the silence, "maybe see if I can find the kids myself." Steve heard a chair being pulled back and Ted stood from his seat at the dining room table. He appeared in the door way, looking down the hall as Mrs. Wheeler stood at the top of the landing.
"Karen," he said in a concerned voice, "I think we should leave it to the professionals." She looked over to Steve as he stood in the awkwardness of the couple.
"I won't be long," she said to him. "Just watch Holly for a little bit, please." Ted looked into the kitchen behind him, looking back at his wife with no expression.
"What do I do with her?" he asked with a monotone voice. Mrs. Wheeler huffed turning her back to him and walking the rest of the way to the top of the stairs. Steve and Ted looked at one another. Steve could hear Holly humming in the back ground as they stood in silence. "You a cop now?" Ted asked.
"Umm," Steve shoved his hands into his pockets. "No sir, I just work with the department. Mainly answering phone and such." The both nodded their heads as one another, listening to Mrs. Wheelers footsteps as she walked around upstairs. Steve stared at a picture of Nancy, trying to think of the last time he had talked to her. He tried to image where she could be, what could have happened. He looked back at Ted with announce, as Mrs. Wheel ran down the steps. She was wearing jeans and a long winter coat. Her hair still nested on the top of her head, her face free of makeup.
If he had told himself this morning that he would be teaming up with Mrs. Wheeler to figure out what government secrets were now happening in their town he would have laughed; he would have laughed hard. As he opened the front door for the woman, he stared back at Ted as he watched his wife leave, making him stay with the three year old daughter he had no connection with.
…
Mike hugged his jacket to his body as he let his ankles sink into the snow. He followed behind Nancy as she carried the black gun she had gotten from one of the men at the Byers house. Hopper's voice called El's name again as they moved forward in the cold. He looked up at the sky; there were still clouds that hug over their heads, and a slight gust of wind coming from their left.
Nancy looked back at him, making sure he was still there as they pushed forward. He could see her tremble from cold, her thick boots making the snow crunch with every step she took. Joyce walked behind her, Jonathan at her side. They had been walking for an hour and Mike new that soon they would come across the quarry if they kept walking in this direction. He looked around the forest, trying to see further ahead.
She said she wouldn't leave, yet here they were walking to find her again. She had promised, yet she had run out of the door like it didn't mean anything to her. He felt anger towards the situation. He thought about his mother, and about his father. Did they ever break their promises?
Hopper came running back to them, his face red with cold. His hand wrapped around his gun as he pointed behind him.
"I think they're heading towards the quarry," Hopper said to them. He could hear Joyce pick up her speed in the back, walking past Mike as he looked over to Nancy, she let out a breath that puffed into the air; walking forward through the deep snow.
Mike listened to the silence. Every time snow would come there was always a moment of silence as nature tried to wrap its roots around the freezing temperatures. There was no wind, there were no birds singing, and he couldn't see any animals in the distance as they continued on their journey. Joyce said a few things to Hopper at the front of the line; Hopper looked forward as if not listening to her. Nancy lowered her gun a little, placing her right hand on Jonathans arm in reassurance. Mike sighed looking behind him, no one was following, and all that was left was their foot prints.
…
El watched as Will walked closer to the iced over water. Piles of rocks stood beside them, and a large cliff looked over them as they got closer. She couldn't hear Hopper calling her anymore, but she wasn't too worried about where he might be. She knew he was probably close behind, and that gave her ease to the situation.
"Don't you feeling like swimming sometimes?" Will asked over his shoulder. His feet were beat red, mostly from the cold ice, but she could see the mud starting to form as they walked through the snowy dirt to the water. She did want to swim, but not now. It was far too cold, and the water was frozen over. There was also the situation of not knowing how to swim, and El was a little to embarrassed to say that she couldn't.
"Sometimes," she said to him shyly, stepping closer to where he stood. She watched as Will put his foot onto the ice, testing it with a little bit of weight. El grabbed his shoulder before he put his other foot onto the small pod, making him stop and look at her with angry eyes. "What are you doing?" She asked in confusion.
"It like he's close," Will said looking at her. "Its like I can feel him in the air." El looked up at the sky, looking for anything that looked unusual. Will shrugged her hand off his shoulder, taking another step onto the hard cold surface. El watched as he took on carful step after another, getting further away from the shore line. She looked behind her to see if anyone was there, but found that she was left alone as Will got further away. She looked down at the ice, not knowing if she should fallow. The feeling of running away was fleeting since she lost track of time about thirty minutes ago. She now felt stupid for following Will all the way out here with no shoes and jacket.
She let her cold foot stand on the ice, feeling how slippery it was, the cold causing a little pain as it chilled to her bone. She watched Will fall onto his butt, a quite thud sounding as he let out a small groan. She put her other foot onto the small lake, letting herself glide a little letting her arms fly out to her side to keep her balance. Will stayed seated on the ice, crossing his legs as he looked up to the sky; searching.
"Look," he said, pointing somewhere past the high cliff and trees. El looked up as she slid towards him, a black cloud danced its way down to them, the haze growing darker as it got closer. El could feel its presence, the sound of a whoosh made her spin shiver. She tried to skate her way closer to Will, putting her hand up to pull him towards her. He started to slide on his butt, trying to put his hands down on the ice to make his movements stop. He cried out as he bumped into her leg, making her fall onto her side, the ice giving a little snap as it slightly cracked.
"Don't," Will yelled at her as she tried to sit up a little bit. She saw a darkness circle around them, and she tried to block Will the best that she could. She put her hand up as if that would stop it, trying to focus on where it was going to go so she could direct her energy.
It formed a small tornado around them, the sound of its winds engulfing her ears. She let out panicked breaths as Will watched in wonder, a small line of black rising from the other, moving closer into the circle to get to them. She pulled energy from her core, still drained from the night before. She pushed the line of black back like she had when she closed to gate, as other raised over their heads. She lifted her other arm, gather energy to the blackness as it tried to rain down on them. She cried out as its weight became heaver on her energy, the sound of ice cracked under them and she started to feel cold water seep through the large lines in the ice.
She looked over to Will; she saw a slight change in his eyes as he began to realize what was happening. His face turned into to fear as the black smoke pushed in on them. He looked all around them as his breath became faster, his chest rising and falling with speed. She could feel herself falling, as the ice gave out under the pressure. She let out a cry as she let her powers fall and she grabbed a hold of Will; but it was too late. The darkness flew into his mouth causing him to stop his movements as they fell into the ice cold water. It was time to learn how to swim.
…
Hopper ran forward as he watched the dark cloud fall from the sky. He ran from the tree line and down the frosted dirt path to the frozen water; watching in horror as it circled around El and Will. He heard Joyce yell behind him, quickly grabbing Mike as he ran past him to get onto the ice.
"Let me go," Mike yelled as Hopper watched the black cloud force its way down onto the kids. He looked at the ice in front of him, wondering if it could hold their weight or not. He heard gravel crunch behind them, not registering that there was a car approaching. He let Mike go, pushing the boy behind him as he tried to take a step onto the ice, watching spider webs crack under his feet because he was to heavy. He heard a loud snap as he watch the ice in the middle of the small pool of water break, the black cloud flying up. He saw El and Will fall into the water as the cloud found its way into Wills mouth, El grabbing him as they went under. He heard fast foot steps behind him, Steve coming into his view as he slid onto the ice. He used the momentum the slide onto the side of his butt, flying to the large watered hole and falling in without thought.
Hopper looked for Joyce, who stepped forward with tears in her eyes, Karen Wheeler stepping closer with a gasp. Mike turned to look at her, him and Hopper met eye to eye with confusion. He turned back to the water, holding his breath waiting for Steve to come back up with the kids. He heard Nancy throw down her gun, taking off her jacket and stepping forward.
"Nancy?" He heard Karen say. Nancy stepped onto the ice with hesitation, slowly sliding to the middle of the water, stopping before getting to the hole of ice. She looked down into the water, and then back at Hopper. She took in a big breath, jumping in to help.
It only took a few second before Nancy and Steve came up holding Will. They worked together to get him back onto the ice, Jonathan taking a step in front of Hopper, before Hopper stopped him.
"We can't have too many people out there," He said to the young man. They all watched as Nancy tried to get herself out of the water, having a hard time as the ice cracked under her hands. After the forth try she got herself up, dragging Will on his back, back to shore while Steve let out a huffed heavy breath, letting himself fall under the water. As Nancy came to shore her mother grabbed her coat, reaching for her with a cry while Jonathan grabbed Will, listening for a breath. Tires came to a stop behind them, as Hawkins energy vans crowded around the wide dirt path.
"Shit," Hopper said, pushing Joyce and Jonathan out of the way to pick Will up and bring him to Karen's car. Jonathan followed him, opening the back door of the car while Hopper placed the wet boy on the seat. He heard a breath come from Will, his eyes still closed. He looked back out to the water, watching at Steve came up with a gasp, holding El in his arms as she let out a cry. He looked behind him as men fell out of the vans with guns; Hopper ran forward trying to figure out a plan.
"Don't move!" one of the men shouted as Hopper got closer to the water. "Nobody move or we will shoot!" Hopper stopped, Karen let out a panicked cry as she hugged Nancy, her teeth chattering. Mike looked from the gun on the ground to the men coming towards him. He met Hoppers eyes in panic, Hopper shook his head while he put his hands up. One of the guys put the head of their gun to his back.
He could see El in panic mode as Steve helped her on the ice. She made him stop mid-way, not standing but sitting on her knees as she looked for Hopper in the crowd. He saw tears form in her eyes, and behind him he could hear Joyce screaming from the car.
"Get your hands off him!" she yelled as Hopper heard a few scuffles in the dirt. He heard a fist hit skin, and looked over his shoulder slightly to see Jonathan on the ground, his hand holding his cheek. He saw Brenner form the corner of his eyes, a smirk on his face as he walked in front of Hopper and looked him in the eyes.
"Well," Brenner said. "Everything seems to be in place." Brenner nodded his head to the man behind Hopper. A man grabbing his wrists, and Hopper tried for a moment to fight back. Another man appearing to his side, a gun pointed at his gut. "I want to thank you for taking good care of her, but I think she has over stayed her welcome." Brenner turned back to the water, walking to the shore line, looking at El. She let out a cry as Mike when for the gun, but was stopped by one of the men. Grabbing Mike and throwing him to the ground. Karen let out a cry as they tied his hands behind his back. Hopper felt the plastic zip tie tightly rap around him own wrists. He let out a growl of frustration.
Steve stood on the Ice with El, not know where to go or what to do. Him and Hopper made eye contact, every thought in Hoppers mind being jumble by the fact that they had lost, he had failed her. He could see her crying as she sat on the ices. Her teeth chattered as she tried to focus on her energy, but he could tell that she was tired; she was cold. He watched as one of the men slowly came onto the ice; his small frame holding a gun at the two of the, Steve held his grip harder onto El shirt as the man got closer.
"Just give us the girl," Brenner said to Steve. The two backed up on the ice a little bit as the man got closer to them; he pointed the gun at Steve, grabbing his arm. Steve pushed the guy, and Hoppers heart stopped. The guy yelled, aiming at Steve, but not shooting.
"Get on the ground!" Steve fell to his knees as the the guy pushed him away from El. She gave a small scream as he lurch forward at her, she crawled on the ice, moving towards the shore. The man grabbed the back of her shirt, pulling her up and pushing her forward. Steve yelled from his spot on the ice, as El slid and fell to her knees with a smack. Hopper moved forward with a growl, the man to the side of him jabbing the gun into his side. She slid to a stop in front of Brenner, her face covered in blood from before. He bent down and pulled her up by the front of her shirt, dark line forming around her eyes. He pulled her onto land, pushing her onto the ground as she fell onto the dirt and rocks.
"Hey!" Hopper and Mike yelled at the same time. Mike tried to fight the guy that loomed over him, his hands tied behind his back as he flailed on the ground. Brenner pulled a needle from his pocket; Hopper could see a black liquid that filled it. He launched himself forward, not caring about the gun or the restraints to his hands. Brenner uncapped the needle as El looked up at him, letting out a loud cry. She creamed as Brenner flew back, landing on the ice hard, making it crack all around him as he, his gun man, and Steve fell into the water.
El continued to scream, and Hopper watched as blood poured from her eyes, ear, and nose. Mike struggle as the guy stood from him, backing up from the boy in fear. Mike pushed himself forward to get to El, as he screamed her name. Hopper let himself run forward as the men with guns backed up slowly, their guns pointed at her as she cover her ears with her hands; crying louder and louder. Mike got to her first, yelling her name as she held her head in pain. Hopper watched the rocks fell from the high cliff that hung over the cold water. A large crack forming up the cliffs edge, snapping and rumbling. Hopper bent in front of her, yelling her name with Mike to get her to calm down. The piles of rock starting to levitate in the air, Karen grabbed Nancy, moving back towards the car.
Hopper watched as all three men moved out of the water, a needle still in Brenner's hands. Hopper looked to Mike, as they watched the cracks on the cliff get wider, dark roots sprouting out of the crevasses.
"She's opening it," Mike said loudly. "She's opening the gate!" Brenner came running out to her, lifting his hand with the needle and throwing it into her neck. Hopper and Mike sat in horror, not able to do anything with their hands behind their backs. Hopper watched at her screams turned into small cries, her eyes slightly opening to look up at them before she slumped onto the ground. She was out cold.
"El?" Mike said leaning over her. Hopper looked down at her, anger washing over his vision as he looked up at Brenner. Men circled in around them, pilling Mike up and dragging him away. Karen yelled from behind him as he felt someonep ull at the plastic ties on his wrist. Brenner bent down, picking her up in his arms, Els body looking so small and weak.
"Don't touch her," Hopper yelled, he was seeing red. "You son of a bitch! I swear to god if you do anything to her!" he pulled with his wrists, trying to launch himself forward. Brenner let out a little laugh.
"Look around you chief," Brenner said, walking past Hopper with El in his hands. "You have no chance of winning." Hopper got pulled with Mike up the dirt path, Steve behind them; a gun to his back. Karen stood at her car, her arms around Nancy who shivered. She walked forward to Mike, grabbing him from the man that guided him; glaring at the man before taking him back to the car. Jonathan sat in the back seat, blood running from his mouth while Joyce stood by one of the van. Hopper guessed Will sat inside of it.
Three vehicles lined the path; Brenner stepped into the back one with El, looking back at Hopper. He saluted, stepping into the van and sliding the door shut. They ushered Steve and Hopper to the second car, pushing them both inside. Steve shivered next to him, his clothes soaking the long seat that they shared. Hopper looked out the front window, watching as one of the men cut the zip ties off of Mike's wrists, as Mike pushed the man away from him. Two guys got into the front seat, while another man got in the back with them, his gun held up ready to shoot if he needed to.
…
Lucas didn't know how it happened. One minute they were sitting in the cabin, Dustin was checking the girl's stitches while Lucas sat on the couch watching the fire. They had been left alone for an hour; the others running after Will and El into the snow. Lucas was thinking about food, he was thinking about how hungry he was and how his mother had talked about making sausage and pancakes in the morning. He sighed, hating himself for leaving in the middle of the night, and realizing that he was going to be in deep shit when he got home.
Dustin walked out of the bedroom, taking a seat next to Lucas with a groan, looking into the flames of the fire place. He rubbed his hands together, looking over to the kitchen and then back. They didn't know when anyone would be home, and they only stayed because they felt bad for the girl. They couldn't just leave her behind because they wanted to go home
There was a creak on the porch, both of their heads shot to the side as footsteps could be heard outside. They stood from their seats on the couch, slowly walking forward to the door. Dustin creeped his head by the front window, lifted the shade to the side to peak out the window. He dropped the shade, Lucas saw as Dustin shook his head; telling him not to open the door.
"Is it the lab guys," Lucas whispered. Dustin shook his head.
"Some punk weirdos," Dustin said. "One has a really big mohawk." Lucas scrunched up his face in confusion. A knock sounded at the door, making both of the boys jump high. Dustin looked around the kitchen area, pulling out a large knife from one of the drawers. He started rifling through the drawers looking for another one, making a loud noise as he moved around metal silver wear. Lucas shushed him, walking over and smacking him in the arm.
"What is wrong with you," Lucas said in a harsh whisper. Another knock sounded at the door, they both stopped their movements looking at the door with large eyes.
"Hello," a guy said in a sing songy voice. "We can hear you in there." Lucas let out a sigh, looking over to Dustin with a nasty look.
"We're looking for a girl," another voice said. She had an accent, her voice slightly soft. "Open this door," she said with a little more force. Lucas looked from the door to Dustin, then into El's room where the girl lay, sleeping with a heavy breath.
"Open this door!" someone else yelled from the outside.
"I can knock it down," a deeper voice said to the group. Lucas walked to the door, looking at the locks debating if he should do it. Dustin came behind him with his Knife, getting himself ready. Lucas put his hands to the locks, undoing them one at a time before slowly peeking through a crack of the door. His eyes landed on the five people that sat on the porch, a girl with big hair stood at the forefront, her eyes glaring back at him.
"Boy," the girl said to him, putting her hand on the door and pushing it back a little bit. "I know she's here, she has found me in her sleep." Lucas looked back at Dustin; they both raised their eyebrows at one another. "Let us in and we will be on our way." He shrugged his shoulder, opening the door a little bit wider. The girl walked past him, her group trailing close behind.
"She was shot," Dustin said, following her into the room. "We took the bullet out, made sure to disinfect it, and gave her some stitches." Lucas looked at the group of people; their punk look making him feel slightly uncomfortable.
"Where's Jane," the girl said .Lucas walked behind the large black man, cramming himself into the room with everyone else. Dustin and Lucas made eye contact, not sure what to say.
"Umm," Lucas looked at everyone around the room. "She stepped out." Everyone looked at him; he let his head fall slightly. The big man he had followed into the room walked to the bed, looking down at the girl before lifting her into his arms. They all stood in silence for a moment, looking at one another in awkwardness.
"Tell Jane I will find her," the girl said. "Tell her here sister came for her, and she will be back." The boys looked at one another once again, both nodding their heads in understand as the group walked out of the room. They slowly walked out of the door, the girl with big white hair closing it behind her.
"I have a bad feeling," Dustin said. "Like something isn't right." Lucas rolled his eyes, walking to the front door and locking it.
"No shit Sherlock," he said loudly. "This is weirder than it usually is, I'm still waiting for some monster to pop out of the floor boards." Dustin walked out of El's room, putting the knife on the kitchen table and rubbing his eyebrows.
"We need to get out of here," Dustin said. "I'm going to be skinned alive by my mother. She's going to take away my Nilla Wafers, and will make me watch Mrs. Claires kids again; I just can't take that kind of stress." Lucas let out a strong sigh, making sure his coat was button tight.
"Fine," he said turning back to the door, "let's get out of here." They bother looked around the cabin, making sure they didn't forget anything before closing the door.
…
Mike sat in the back seat of his mom's car with Jonathan. They were fallowing the vans down the high way; Mike looked ahead trying to remember which one El was in. He thought she was in the middle of the three vans.
He could feel cuts around his wrists from the plastic restraints. Nancy sat in the front seat, her teeth chattering as his mother turned up the heater. They had taken Will into another van, Joyce staying with him while the poked and prodded at him. Mike let out a sigh, his leg bouncing up and down with nerves.
"How many times do I tell you kids that you can talk to me," his mother said through a strained voice. Mike honestly felt bad; his mother just got thrown into something that was way bigger than she could ever understand. He thought about his dad, how he was probably sitting at home trying to figure out how to feed a three year old.
"We're sorry," Nancy said. "It was safer not to say anything then say something. We didn't want to bring you into this mess."
"I don't even know what this mess is," his mom said loudly. She slammed one of her hands on the stirring wheel, glancing though the rearview mirror at Mike and Jonathan. Mike slammed his back into the seat, crossing his arms onto his chest. He looked over at Jonathan, who was biting his nails glancing out the front window at the vans. "Mike," his mom said in a quiet voice, " is this why you've been so emotion all year." Mike rolled his eyes, she had no idea.
"I don't want to talk about it," he said biting his lip. They drove for at least thirty minutes, passing the Byers house, heading the same way to the cabin. Mike watched as they passed the snow covered tall trees, listening to the heater as it blasted out of the car vents. He thought about last night, how it felt like a million miles away. He let butterfly's play in his stomach as he replayed the kiss he shared with El, letting the air out of his lungs in a hard humph. He was mid-way playing though his memory for the third time, when he heard screeching tire, his sister let out a scream, while they all flew forward. His mother slammed the breaks hard, as he heard loud crashing all around him. Their car slid to the side, spinning in a circle down the road. Mike couldn't see anything that was happening; everything went past his eyes in a quick flash. The car came to a fast stop, everyone breathing hard.
Mike looked around the car. They hadn't been hit, but something must have happened for them to be sitting side ways in the middle of the road. He could hear his sister and mother slightly crying, Jonathan flew out of the door. He stood in shock with his hands on his head and Mike looked around him. One van was perfectly fine, the one that had been in the back of the line. He looked to his right; the first two vans were flipped. One had been rammed hard, while the other had just skid on the ice. A tan van sat in the grass off the road facing the trees, the front of it smoking.
Mike watched as Jonathan run to the crash site, Mike unbuckled himself, his heart racing a mile a minute. Men ran out the van in the back, Steve and Hopper falling out along with them. Steve pulled a knife from the back of Hopper pocket, cutting his cuffed wrists. Hopper massaged them as he ran forward, Mike falling out of the car to follow them. He could hear his mom scream his name but he ignored her, his breath catching as he looked at both of the vehicles. One had El, and the other had Will and Mrs. Byers. He felt tears fall from his eyes, the salt touching his lips as he watched Hopper scream at Steve to go to one van while he went to the other. Mike stood in shock, not know what to do with what was happening.
…
El lifted her eye lids slowly, feeling her arms locked down. She looked around her surroundings, a spot light ahead of her, something caused a bump, making her head hurt. She was moving, or she was in something that was moving. Her eye sight was getting less foggy. She was lying in a small space, her arms tide to metal bars on each side of the bed she was laying on. She felt weak, light she had run for hours without stopping.
"Rise and shine," she heard a voice say. Papa's face came into her view; his body hunched over her. "I've missed you," he said lightly to her, moving hair from her face gently. El's breath hitched in her lungs, as she tried to move her arms; forgetting they were tied down. "You might feel a little weak for a while. I gave you some medicine, to make you better." El looked around herself, trying to get her barring's.
"Hopper," she said lightly, her voice crusted. She could feel her heart beat rising, her breath moving fast as she started to panic. "Hopper!" she yelled closing her eyes in hopes that it was just a dream.
"Hey," papa said, putting his hands on her shoulder, trying to get her to calm down. "He's just in the van behind us," El stopped moving, looking at the metal walls again. She was in a van, they were moving. She tried to focus, to concentrate on what was happening around her. She couldn't focus, her mind was mush, and her body was weak. She could feel tears forming in her eyes as she let herself panic. "I'm taking you to your new home, where you'll be safe."
El was crying, and her chin was trembling. She let a whimper leave her lips as she looked up at the man that brought her fear. Brenner, that was his name, and he wasn't her papa. Her breath stuck inside of her as she thought about her family; picturing Hopper dancing as he played music from his singing machine. How Mike smiled every time he got the opportunity to help her understand something. She stopped her crying, looking up at the man that showed her hell, showed her how lucky she was to get away from him. He looked down at her, his eyes filled with fake concern.
Her eyes were squinting as she tried to draw as much energy as she could. She could almost feel something deep in her mind, but every time she got ready to use it she felt it fall back. She felt blood fall from her nose, her head hurting as if her was pounding it against a wall.
"You can try all you want," Brenner said to her. "You won't be able to use any power until your medicine wears off," El didn't understand. She knew what medicine was, but the only time she ever took it was when Hopper told her she had something called a flu. "Just hang tight," he placed his hand on her arm. He moved forward to the front of the van, talking softly to someone at the front. She took the alone time to figure out how she was going to get out, how she was going to find Hopper, and her family.
She heard Brenner gasp, the sound of a loud screech, tired screaming. At first she didn't know what was happening, everything was so loud, there was screaming. Before she knew it she felt herself lurch to the side, the bed she was tide to flipping, and she felt like something cut across her face. The underside of the bed and metal bars protected her from anything else. She could hear metal crunching, and then everything was silent. She saw darkness for a few seconds, opening her eyes when she started choking. Smoke was filling up the space; she couldn't hear anyone in the car say anything. Was she alone?
There was a pop and then a slam as the doors behind her opened. She could hear Hopper voice curse as she felt the bed being shoved to the side. She couldn't move, she couldn't think as she felt one arm get cut from its bindings. It fell across her body as she slid forward from the bed. Hopper put his hand on her chest before she could fall, cutting her other arm from the metal bar.
"I got you kid," He said softly. "Can you hear me?" She nodded her head as he lifted her into his arms. She could feel the cold breeze from outside, the bright light of the sun making her eyes sting. She closed them hard, trying to focus on her breathing. "Get in the car now!" She heard Hopper yell. There were shoes on the pavement as he listened to car doors open. He felt Hopper slide her into the back of the car, a hand brushed across her face as Hopper moved away from her.
"I need you to drive," Hopper said from outside. "I need you to drive and keep going. Once you feel like you've gotten far enough find a phone and call the Byers house."
"What about my family," she heard a woman say. El tried opening her eyes, her right hand moving her cover them from the light. Her head was resting in a lap, and she could see blood covering her fingers. "My daughter is still at home, Ted can't take care of her."
"Just give me a day," Hopper was standing at the back door, talking over the top of the car. Nancy sat in the front seat. El looked at who her head was resting on, Mike was staring forward at whoever Hopper was talking to.
"Mom get in the car," Nancy said. She could hear the woman sigh, feeling the car shake as she sat in the driver's seat.
"You don't take your eyes off of her," Hopper said, bending over to look through the door. His finger was pointed at Mike, his face stern. "If she runs you follow, if she falls you pick her up, you understand me?"
"Loud and clear," mike said back. She looked up at him as he looked down at her, putting a hand in her hair. She felt Hopper touch her leg. She looked over to him, seeing tears in his eyes.
"Don't be stupid," he said to her before closing the door. She felt the car fly forward; Mike pulled her closer as she closed her eyes to the pain.