CHAPTER XVI:
Nancy, Robin, and Mike entered the Byers' new home.
The plan was simple, Dustin, Erica, Lucas, Mike, Nancy, and Robin were invited to the Byers to finish playing the Dungeons and Dragons the group started last weekend. It would go on from lunch to curfew. In actuality, the group might play a bit of the game. However, the focus of this evening was a trip to the Upside-Down. A recon mission, Nancy, Robin, Steve, and Dustin could not recount how the Upside-Down might look now. The four were in far too much shock when they escaped to Hawkins.
"This better work," said Steve.
...
He backed away from the dining table as Jonathan took photos of the four maps. Jonathan held down the flash of Joyce's polaroid camera. The film dropped to the table lying atop the maps—each set of plans with three different pictures.
"I have to work all day tomorrow. A whole Sunday shift, do you know how boring that will be?" Steve insisted to everyone who would listen.
Nancy shook her head. She laughed as she placed her purse in the armchair Robin would likely sit in soon.
Robin rolled her eyes. "You won't be alone, dingus. I'll be there. I work tomorrow, too." She walked to Steve, eyeing the photos Jonathan had taken. "This is an excellent idea. Easy access maps."
After the group spent Steve's five dollars plus a few more, Robin, Nancy, Jonathan, Argyle, Will, and Mike stood around their handy work. Will, suggested using one of each map as a decoy. "You know, just in case. You never know what's bugged around here still."
Those maps sat in a cylinder. Ready to be placed inside the station wagon or the back of the truck. The group needed to decide that as soon as possible.
The plans Jonathan photographed were altered by multiple-colored sharpies, highlighters, and whatever else the group could find at the time once they arrived at the Byers' home—covered in notations of where the 'earthquake' hit highlighted areas of their homes, the Creal House, the Lab, Pennhurst, and even the High School. Routes created in pen.
"What do we do till the sun goes down," asked Dustin.
The group agreed when working on the maps. Will and Eleven were to stay here. The further away from the Upside-Down and away from whatever might call them the best for now. Jonathan and Argyle, even Joyce, Hopper, and Murray, would stay with the two. Not paranoid but worried about who might be watching them now.
Dustin, Steve, Erica, Lucas, Mike, Nancy, and Robin would travel to the Upside-Down at nightfall. The goal was to see what they could find about Pennhurst, witness the state of The Creal house, and the Lab if the five hours of decided time would allow—using the Wheeler home as a base of operations.
"We could always do what we told our parents we would do," suggested Nancy. She enjoyed listening to Robin narrate an adventure they all had better control over. "Any objections?"
-.-.-.-
Our Adventurers travel back through the stronghold. The Elf, Fighter, Dwarf, Gnome, Paladin, Sorcerer, Barbarian, Ranger, two Rogues, and Erky find Meepo and a few other gully dwarfs in the area where the White Dragon Wyrmling is. They are assessing the room to see what can be salvaged and repaired.
"Maybe a better living condition this time," suggests Will. "Maybe give Calcryx the whole room as her space instead of a cage that will likely be too small for her soon?"
Meepo smiles at the suggestion. One of the Gully dwarfs mutters they will have to run the idea by the 'queen,' but it will make the dragon happy and not try to kill them, the better.
...
Again, at the room with the first fountain. The company's two rogues eye the dragon door with curiosity and longing. "Okay, but only if you can open it, " says Lucas. The Ranger, still weary from the unexpected fight with the condemned Dragonpriest.
The Half-Elf Rogue smirks at the Ranger as the lock clicks open. "You were saying," says Erica.
With the dragon door open, the company cautiously enters the small room. Five dusty sarcophagi sit to the sides. Three at the north and two to the south, they all stand upright. The carved stone resembles an elf-like humanoid in ceremonial robes. A black obsidian altar with carved dragons sits in the center of the west wall. A single candle burns brightly on the platform. Next to the candle was a small whistle and a crystal flask.
She steps forward, the Half-Elf Rogue, focusing on the three objects atop the altar. Her hands hover. There is a shift of stone as stale air escapes the five stone coffins. Each carved elven-like humanoid cover falls to the floor in a domino effect.
"Seriously, I'm not fighting five of those guys again," states Steve. The Barbarian looks as if he's had it, and they have barely begun.
The dust falls, revealing five skeletons. All shift their heads, focusing on the Half-Elf Rogue at the altar. The eerie soundlessness causes her to set the crystal flask back where it formerly sat.
The Rogue flings two daggers in the direction of a skeleton to kill or refocus on her. Its head dislodges from the spinal cord. The rest of its body collapses to pieces on the ground. The Ranger is at the Half-Elf Rogue's side in seconds of a few swift movements. He takes hold of her arm, and his magic radiates around her. The remaining skeletons hiss as if repulsed by an unseen force.
The Sorcerer's hand begins to glow a pale blue as a bolt of molten red and orange fire erupts, flying and hitting a skeleton, setting it in a blaze. An arrow flies from the bow of the Elf. It hits square in the chest, piercing through the sternum. It crumbles to the ground.
The Half-Elf Rogue uses the altar to propel herself in the air, and like her rogue travel companion, she throws two daggers at the closest skeleton. Its head dislodges with a few vertebrae from its body. It collapses to pieces like the other.
The Dwarf walks to the Barbarian, and he laughs, hitting the Barbarian's back. "Looks like you didn't half, too," laughs Dustin.
"Not worth it," scoffs Erica. The Half-Elf Rogue pockets six peridot jewels in the shape of dragons for the group to divide later. Doing the same with the whistle and crystal flask.
"This need for treasure might kill us all," states Jonathan. The fighter exits the room with the rest of his companions.
The Adventurers continue to travel their previous route. The Sorcerer holds the candle from the altar. It creates as much light as any torch. The Elf cannot help but hold herself high. Her nose turned at the smell of aged and molded, forgotten food. As the group travels through the 'pantry.'
The door opens to a long room. Several torches mount the pillars that line the long hall's north and south sides. A cloud of smoke billows from the torches, creating a thick haze and filling the room and air.
It never builds to suffocating levels thanks to the natural ventilation found along the tops of the walls.
The marble pillars are adorned with twisting dragons running the hall length.
-.-.-.-
Robin kept a close eye on the clock this time. There were more important matters at hand. They could fight their game battle when less pressing issues were on everyone's minds.
The group corralled the back of the station wagon.
Dustin began to divide the wireless extensions. Two for the Upside-Down, two for Hawkins, and any extras they would decide later. He eyed the military-grade walkie-talkies.
"Do we even need these now," asked Lucas. He flicked the light on and off.
Robin watched the light. She looked at Dustin. Was she the first one to have this idea? Robin shook her head. That did not matter. "We know Walkie-Talkies work down there. What if this could be totally crazy? What if we could get it to communicate up here? I mean, it's got a light. What if we like to link them up or something…" suggested Robin. She shrugged the idea and quickly moved to Steve, who, with the help of Nancy, was packing a backpack.
...
The group chose a construction location close to the road where Fred was found.
Dustin pulled a walkie-talkie from its box. He looked at Will. "One blink is no. Two blinks are yes." He flicked the light. "Three, for confirmation."
"Sure." Will pulled another from a box and tuned it to find the same frequency.
The teenagers huddled together one last moment. Nancy tossed Jonathan the station wagon keys. This would only work if her car stayed outside the Byers' home.
"Five hours," spoke Jonathan.
Robin held up the stopwatch they had been using for gaming. "Five hours."
Argyle pulled out from the fence. Will was sitting in the front passenger seat. Jonathan followed close behind in Nancy's car.
They turned to the small opening and began walking through one by one back to a place many wished never to return.
...
Flickers of emitting lights pulsate the streets of the Upside-Down Hawkins. Nancy, Robin, Erica, Mike, Lucas, Dustin, and Steve huddle together as they walk the streets of the past. The lights sway.
"Was this here before when you…," asked Mike as he watched the lights curiously. They had a rhythm like each light was encoded with a preset destination.
Dustin, Nancy, Robin, and Steve stayed silent. A rush of unwanted memories crawled their way through the teenagers' minds. "No, these," answered Dustin. He watched the floating lights with the same amount of wonder. "These are most definitely new." His hand was raised, ready to touch whatever it was. Steve grabbed his hand. He gave him a look. Dustin said nothing.
"We can figure that out later. Right now, we need to get to the Byers' new home and see if Robin's theory about the walkie-talkies works," Nancy spoke with authority in her voice. She did not want to stay down here any longer than the allotted five hours they had agreed to. Nancy began walking the street.
Erica and Robin flanked her as Lucas, Dustin, Mike, and Steve rounded the back.
...
The Byers' home stood the same aside from the ominous vines that rapped mainly around the first story of the house. Steve took point. His hand was on the front door. It opened quickly with a bit of applied force. The teens observed the layout of the home. It was similar, with different furniture. A creek was heard on the floorboards separating the dining area from the living room. The group jumped, glancing at Lucas' feet.
"Sorry," Lucas whispered.
Mike turned on his flashlight. "I'm going to see if I can figure out who owns the house." The others nodded in agreement as they naturally split apart to search the house for evidence of who would have lived in the home during 1983.
Nancy followed behind Mike. "Are you okay," she asked. "Just because I haven't directly asked doesn't mean I haven't noticed something going on with you."
Mike stopped in front of a wall of photographs. "I don't know… I guess… I just thought it would return to normal with Will and Eleven returning home. And Jonathan." He rested his weight against a small side table. He closely eyed the small photo at his eye level, doing his best to keep focusing on Nancy.
"Jonathan and I broke up weeks ago, Mike. You know that, but I know what you meant." Nancy turned to Mike's focus. "A lot changed this year … a lot changed for all of us during spring break. We had to deal with well here," Nancy motioned to their space with her hands. "Without any of you, for the first time ever. It might look like we can handle ourselves, but I'm terrified of being back here, Mike. I watched Steve almost die twice. I was convinced Robin was gone, too. And Dustin… Dustin held Eddie in his arms." Nancy paused to contain herself. She wondered if Mike thought she was waiting for emphasis like he often claims she does to get her point across. "None of us thought we could do what we did without any of you, most importantly Eleven. I don't think we were able to do anything. Eddie is gone, and Max is lost wherever that is. So, what if Henry is MIA."
Mike is silent. "We had to bury the body of the agent who saved our lives in the desert. He saved our lives, and he still died. Then we had to bury him…." Nancy squeezed Mike in a sibling side hug. Her head barely rested on his boney shoulder. "That looks like—I think that kid was one of the ones listed in the 'mall fire.'"
Nancy eyed the family photo closer. "You're sure?"
"Guys," yelled Lucas, a touch of excitement. "I think I heard Hopper over here!"
...
The group gathered their best in the living room and kitchen doorway. Surrounded, Dustin held the walkie-talkie up. "Do you think Will is with him?"
"I'm not saying you kids are wrong. It's just a lot riding on a theory, that's all." It was Hopper again, his voice fading in and out.
Another voice faded in. "I know, but it's all we must go on." It was Will.
The group perked. "That was Will. It had to be Will," urged Mike.
Dustin nodded. He took a breath and began to flick the walkie-talkie light three times.
"Wow… dudes, did that walkie-talkie just flick," it was Argyle.
"I think so," It was Jonathan. "Go on, ask them something." Jonathan was speaking to someone else.
"Are you all safe," asked Eleven.
Dustin looked from the device to the others. His grin was broad. He clicked the light twice.
There were subtle distant cheers. "Well, use the thing like you're supposed to be used," it was Murry,
"Go somewhere else.
Dustin looked to the others. "Might as well." He began walking the hall back to the front of the house. Everyone followed close behind. He stopped about ten feet from where he originally stood. He flicked the switch twice.
There's a pause, and the party can hear Murry cheer from a distance in the original space he was standing in the kitchen, but also as clear as day, like he was standing directly with them.
"It works," said Steve in shock.
The teens look at one another, smiles across their faces. This could work. They were one step closer to finding out what had happened.
A voice clears its throat, still distant from the walkie-talkie. It was Hopper. "Continue looking wherever it is you need to look. We will have the walkie-talkie with us. When you get to the Wheeler's, you contact us again. We need to see how far these things will go, yeah."
Dustin clicks the light twice.
"All right, you heard Hopper. Let's go see what happened to the creepy Creal house," states Steve. He lifts his fist in a half-heart attempt for morale. He reached the front door when a pulsing light from outside emanated through the house's walls.
...
It hit directly with Steve.
He froze. "Get it off. Get it off," Steve yelled, waving at himself like a swarm of insects just came in contact with his skin.
The boys chuckled softly as they all gathered at the door. They exited the home.
"One of those walked right through me! You saw it. It walked right through me," grumbled Steve.
"Getting spider flashbacks," chuckled Robin.
"That's not funny," grumbled Steve again. "It was like someone passed right through me. Like a fucking ghost."
Mike looked back in the direction of the house. The door was still open. The hovering light began to flicker. It said nothing but the same exact likeness of the boy in the photo he and Nancy just saw staring back at them. The boy's face was vacant, void of all emotion. It stared through Mike. It stared through them all.
The boy phased in, then out again, his face just as vacant as before.
"Um… Nancy…," spoke Mike.
Nancy looked at her brother and followed his gaze to the boy, who looked to be in his early teens.
She gasped.
The group looked on as more pulsating ghost lights began hovering in their direction—each flickering and phasing from nonsense light to glowing representations of long-dead Hawkins residents.