The group arrived in front of Hawkins middle school in record time. Georgie's leg had really started to bother her, and she thought the stitches were probably ripped, and it felt like her skin was tearing even more. It was on fire. She got out out of Hopper's truck, and nearly fainted when she landed on the driveway. The pain meds and the pain itself was making her dizzy and lightheaded.
"Are you okay?" Dustin asked, putting out an arm to stabilize his sister. She just nodded and started walking towards the school. Nancy was already at the doors, letting everyone in.
Dustin and Lucas were behind her, carrying the folded up kiddie-pool from Joyce's. She was walking towards the gym, and running her fingers along the lockers as she did. Her whole body felt wrong. She walked to the gym, the only sounds behind her was the rolling of the pool and the boys' footsteps. If they were talking, she didn't hear it. It kind of felt like she had a fever. Georgie opened the gym doors and led the boys to the middle of gym.
"Georgie?" Lucas said. "You really don't look good."
"I'm fine," she said, voice light and airy. "Just set the pool up, okay? Stop worrying about me."
Lucas nodded, and while Dustin looked more hesitant, he began to set it up as well. He knew that what they needed to get done was important. Georgie however, couldn't seem to focus on their words, and once they had it set up the right way – after ten minutes of fiddling they had it set up. Georgie sat next to it. Just a minute, she just needed a minute.
Mike and Nancy blew into the room with hoses, and worked with the boys to fill and set the tub. It had to be exactly right so Eleven could do her thing. The air in the room was heavy, as if everyone was expecting something bad, or scary. It was like waiting for a jump scare in a movie. Everytime they turned a corner felt like there was going to be monsters in the shadows. Georgie took a deep breath and stood up. She had to shake off the bad feelings. She could ache later. If she wasn't present and helpful, why was she even there? Where was Eleven? That is something helpful she could do.
Despite the pain in her leg, Georgie went to find where Joyce and Eleven had run off to. Something about finding goggles? She didn't know what was going on, it was all very bizarre.
"Georgie," Dustin said, catching up to her before she could leave the gym. "Your leg... you should be sitting down. Take a break."
"I just took a break," she said, smiling softly. He didn't look the slightest bit convinced.
"You're so pale right now and it's freaking me out. I was trying to be nice but you're so freaking stubborn."
"I'm not stubborn."
"Do not be stubborn about being stubborn, I don't really have the time for it." Before Georgie could get a word in Dustin said, "go sit down, now."
And for whatever reason, she listened to him. He was being so authoritative. She didn't know if she liked it or not. She was the older sister, and she had to sit down because of a cut. The scariest realization was that in this moment, she was the weak link. If this were to come to a chase... Georgie would only slow them down. As if she would ever let one of those men take her brother, but she would make them go on without her. Dramatic, and not yet an issue. But a resolution in the back of her mind.
Georgie watched helplessly as the plan was set up around her. She hated that this was what it had come to, sending Eleven into the scariest parts of her power. Sending her to a place the monster could see her. It sent unwelcome chills down Georgie's spine.
As Eleven got settled into the tub, everyone gathered around on their knees. Waiting for something to happen. It was only moments before Eleven whispered Barb's name. It was the best kind of bad news. Was Barb there? Was it good? Was it bad? Not knowing was sending Georgie's mind to some pretty dark places. It was like every bad scenario possible ran through her thoughts, reminding her how much danger they were in. The lights flickered above them. She couldn't tell if it was Eleven's reflexes, or a sign of something worse.
"What's going on?" Nancy asked.
"I don't know," Mike said.
"Is Barb okay? Is she okay?" Nancy turned her attention back to Eleven.
In tiny broken whispers, Eleven started whispering gone over and over. Fear ran across Georgie and Nancy's faces, followed by tears. Joyce tried to calm El, but she was quickly getting louder, and the terror in her voice was getting more clear. But after a few moments and some sweet words from Joyce. It seemed as though El was relaxing. She stopped kicking up waves, and was floating on top of the water again. Georgie wanted to pull her out. Now.
"Castle Byers."
Those two words sent everyone on edge. It was what they were all waiting for. And then El said his name. Georgie felt like she couldn't breath, waiting for an answer. She grabbed Dustin's hand, holding it tightly.
Eleven sat up quickly, startling everyone back a couple inches. Joyce help onto Eleven for a little bit, trying to calm her down from the bathtub. It was terrible. She shouldn't have had to go through that. It was hard to think they weren't asking too much of her. Elle is just a little girl who had already been through too much. It wasn't fair to keep asking for more.
"Come on," Joyce said, "let's get out of the water. Hopper do you- yeah, Hopper has the towel honey, come on."
"I'll take her to sit down," Georgie said, coming to stand beside Elle. "I'll be staying with the kids."
"Yes, I think that's good," Hopper said. "From here on out, you four stay within sight of Georgie."
"Come on, sweetheart." Georgie gave her shoulders a little squeeze. "We'll just sit over here for a minute. Give you some room to breath."
Georgie took Elle to sit on the bleachers, Mike eagerly taking the other side of Elle to sit by. Dustin sat by Georgie, and Lucas by Mike. While everyone else talked about Castle Byers and what they discovered. Georgie looked over at her brother. She was so proud of him, he'd stayed so brave this whole time. She took his hand, and held it tightly between her fingers.
"Are you okay, Georgie?" Dustin asked. "You've been bleeding a lot."
"Don't you worry about me," she said. "It's under control and the hospital can take a look at it later."
It was not good. The pain was still shooting up her leg. Both her pants and gauze were completely soaked through. She was sticky, damp, and fatigued. The hospital was first stop when they had a chance but she couldn't risk leaving her brother alone here. It was her job to protect him. Worst case scenario was that her soccer career was over. Best case scenario is that they all get to live – Will included.
"Can you guys stay here? Please, I need you to be right here when I get back." They all nodded. Eleven was in no shape to move, and they wouldn't leave her behind. Georgie followed out the door where Jonathan left. Him and Nancy were sitting on the ground, talking in hushed voices.
"What's the plan?" Georgie asked, standing in front of them.
"We have to kill that thing," Nancy said. "I don't know if Joyce really understands what they'll be going up against. We can't let it get them too."
"Don't try and stop us," Jonathan said.
"I'll stay with the kids. I won't be able to help with my leg the way it is anyway."
"We're doing it no matter what." Jonathan carried on anyway. "I won't let it hurt my mom."
"I'm not fighting with you, I'm agreeing with you." Georgie rubbed her eyes. "Sneak out the back, I'm not gunna tell the kids you're gone. They'll want to come."
"Stay safe," Nancy said, getting up to give Georgie a hug. "We're gunna make it through this. We all are."
Georgie squeezed Nancy tightly. "Give it hell for me."
"Take care of Mike for me," she whispered before pulling away.
"I won't let them out of my sight," Georgie promised. "Let's win this thing."
Jonathan also came to give Georgie a tight hug, both of them silently understanding each other and that there was a bigger chance of this being the last goodbye that anyone wanted to acknowledge. They all walked to the backdoor together, so Georgie could lock it behind them. It wasn't really gunna magically keep them safe but it wouldn't hurt to at least close up.
Georgie cursed herself for getting hurt. She felt like a set back in the plan. Typically, it was her that had everything under control. She hated it. It was overwhelming to say the least.
When she got back into the gym, the kids actually were exactly where she had left them. It was almost surprising at this point, she wouldn't have been if they had snuck out – thinking they would be able to do something to help. Not that they weren't helpful...
"Where's Nancy?" Mike asked.
"Can someone help me try to wrap this again? Do you have any gauze left in your backpack?" She was able to dodge his question when Dustin began loudly sifting through his bag looking for it. Georgie ripped the one she was wearing, all the excess blood sticking to her fingers. The whole bandage was soaked, it wasn't doing any good anymore. She unwrapped it, setting the squishy pile next to her. Her fingers were stained red from touching it.
"Are you sure we shouldn't go to the hospital?" Dustin asked, following her instructions to wrap it back up.
"Not until this thing is over," Georgie said. "Survive until morning. And hopefully that'll be the end of it.
Mike stood up, clearly tired of being ignored, and left the gym despite Georgie pleading for him to stay. She couldn't move and ruin the work her brother was doing, they didn't have a lot to spare.
"I think that's it, right?" Dustin asked, tying the end to the rest of the gauze.
"Great job, kid."
The gym doors squeaked as Mike came back into the room .He hadn't been gone more than four minutes.
"They're gone," Mike said, rejoining the group.
"What?" Lucas asked.
"Nancy and Jonathan. His car is gone," Mike explained.
"They're probably just sucking face somewhere," Dustin said. Georgie couldn't help but snort at that.
"Gross," Lucas muttered under his breath.
"No. No way!"
"Did they go with the chief?" Dustin asked.
"I don't know!"
"No," Elle said, looking up at Georgie. The older girl's cheeks started to go red under the pressure.
"Georgie? Where are they?" Mike asked. Georgie was afraid he would want to go after them, she didn't think they'd catch on so fast.
"They're doing what they need to do," Georgie said, trying to hold strong. "They're totally fine."
"Yesh, okay. But where are they?" Mike asked again.
"Demogorgan." Eleven said.