I hope you enjoy this (edited) chapter! The next rewrite should be updated sometime this evening. As always, I only own my OC.

Tears start rolling down her cheeks as she leans down to pull me up, not even reacting to my smell. "Oh my God, oh my God. You're alive."

"Barely." I croak. We stumble and I wince. "Sorry. Dehydrated." I cough, aching and faint.

"I know, it's okay. We're getting out of here." She murmurs, leading me away from the boulder. "Barb. Where is she?"

I shudder. "Took her. She… I…"

"Hey, hey, shh. Don't panic. I've got you. Jonathan's going to be so happy to see you." She whispers, pulling me through a thicket of trees. "Jonathan!" She screams. "Jonathan!" We rush through the woods, the Wheeler girl supporting my weight the whole time.

"C-careful. Monsters." I whimper. I actually whimper. And if I had water in my system, I'd be crying.

"I know, I know. We're running from one right now."

"Oh." I mumble. "Sleep?" I mutter.

"No, no, no. Not yet. Soon, I promise." We keep moving. "Jonathan!"

"Nancy! Nancy!"

"Jonathan! Where are you?" She screams back, voice panicked when she sees my body going a little lax. "C'mon, Vera. Stay with me. Don't you dare leave me!"

"I won't leave you." I whisper. "Promise."

"Nancy! Just follow my voice!" I hear my best friend yell, and I start to smile.

"You were… looking?"

She gives me an incredulous look, despite the panic on her face. "Of course."

"Nancy!" Jonathan yells again, and I watch the girl who saved me straighten, feel her moving us faster.

"Jonathan!"

"Follow my voice Nancy, I'm right here! Nancy!" We turn, only to be met with one of the monsters. It's face opening up as it shrieks, and Nancy gasps. I've grown so used to them over these past few however-many days have gone by to do more than groan.

Or maybe it's just the exhaustion.

Nancy pulls us away, towards the sound of Jonathan's screaming. Where is he, anyway? How did he and Nance get here?

The growling continues and Nancy pulls me behind a tree, wrapping her arms around me in a hug that has me collapsing. The monster gets closer, stomping angrily. It's going to wake up the vines. The vines are going to be so angry.

I giggle at the prospect of vines fighting monsters, and Nancy puts a hand over my cloth-covered mouth, shushing me.

The monster starts to stomp away, and we both hear Jonathan yell, "Nancy! Follow my voice!" I watch her head turn and follow her gaze to see a red, gooey hole.

"Pretty. Gross and Pretty." I murmur sleepily.

"Come on!" She tells me, eyes still teary. "Let's get you home."

The monster growls as Jonathan calls us, then suddenly I'm being pulled to the tree and pushed through. Nancy is right behind me, both of us small enough to budge through together, until she forces her hand out of the web of slime and it disappears.

"Jonathan!"

"Nancy!" My best friend yells back, and I start to feel air. Clean air, until eventually I'm tugged out of the tree and landing on a familiar body, Nancy curled around us. "Veronica?"

I blink, running a slimy hand over Jonathan's face.

"John. Missed you. Dustin?" I ask, Nancy sobbing in the background as she unties the flannel around my face. I breathe in the fresh air, hear the birds chirping and feel the wind blowing. I can hear something moving behind me, but I feel safe.

"He's fine." Jonathan is crying, too. "Everyone is looking for you. Your dad came, too. Mark and Craig have been helping Hopper with tracking."

"What -?" I break off into coughs, Jonathan and Nancy helping me stand. The ground disappears from under my feet and I loop up to see Jonathan carrying me like I'm a princess from a storybook. "Strong." I mumble, head tilting onto his shoulder as he and Nancy walk through the woods, the girl carrying my backpack.

"What do they think happened?" I nod at Nancy's question. "You and Barb went missing." My heart clenches. "They think whoever had taken Will got you, too. That they got tired of him, and wanted two new toys to play with."

"Will?" I start to panic, dry cries coming out of my mouth.

"He's alive. We don't know how or exactly where, only that whatever took you has him still."

"How?" I ask, eyes starting to close, only for Jonathan to move me so I stay awake.

"Pictures."

"Pictures?"

Jonathan sighs, heavy. "I'll tell you later. Or never. So you don't yell at me."

"Why?"

"Never mind." He mutters.

"Vera, what… what happened with Barb?" Nancy quietly asks.

I look over at her, at how guilty she looks asking, like she didn't mean to. "Dragged. Down. Tried to help. But I couldn't. Sh-she let go. Looked. Nothing. I'm sorry." I whimper.

"Shh, shh. No, it's okay. It's not your fault. We'll find her." Nancy tells me, holding my hand as make our way through the woods.

"I'm tired." I whisper.

"We need you awake. Okay? As soon as we get you help, you can sleep. But not right now."

I nod at Jonathan's words again. "Plan?"

"We're taking you to the hospital. We'll say we were out looking for you, too, and found you unconscious by a tree." Nancy formulates, and I squeeze her hand. "Then you are going to get better, and we're going to take care of this."

"No!" I growl, feral. "Help."

"You're injured. Badly." Jonathan reminds me, gently.

"Help."

The two sigh, and Nancy speaks up. "We'll talk about that later. Let's just worry about getting you to the hospital."

The entire car ride over, Nancy sits next to me in the backseat, constantly poking me and asking me questions. "Did you eat?/Nougat. Was there water?/No. How many monsters were there?/Too many. Did you fight one?/Too busy running."

While she asks me questions, Jonathan gets on a walkie talkie, relieved voices on the other side promising to, "Bring them in."

Chaos erupts the minute I'm carried into the hospital. I barely hear Jonathan and Nancy. All I feel are gloved hands holding me down as I thrash on a stretcher, crying out for them and mumbling in pain as doctors shout their orders to the nurses surrounding us.

I can make out three people, though, when I'm wheeled down the hall. All three of them running after me, fighting to get through. "Leia!"

I tilt my head up, my little brother fading in the distance. "Dustin!" I shout back. "Let. Me. Dustin!" I scream, wailing as I'm brought into another room. I succumb to the darkness, mumbling as the world fades.

My mouth feels fuzzy. My mouth is fuzzy, but not as dry as it was before. Eyes still closed, my tongue pokes out and runs across my lips. They're split, but not as dry. My skin isn't as tight, either. My fingers twitch then press together, and my eyes open when I realize they're smooth. Not slimy. Smooth.

There's a slight glow in the room, but nothing too bright. My left forearm stings a little, a needle piercing the skin. Oh, I'm in the hospital. That's right. Nancy and Jonathan found me, brought me here. And my family-

A chorus of snores captures my attention, and I look over to see three people hunched together. My lips pull up in a smile at the sight of my brother leaning against my mom, hand in my dad's hand, my parents' arms holding the three together. And even though it hurts to see the man who ruined it all, I tear up at how blotchy my dad's face is. How pale he is. My mom looks gaunt, the rosiness in her cheeks gone. Her whole body is tense. And Dustin… even asleep, he looks lost.

"D?" I ask, coughing a bit. "D? Wake up." He mumbles and shifts, opening his eyes and yawning as he sits up, only to fall onto the floor.

That sends my mom and dad flying out of their seats, awake and alert. "Dustin!" My mom fusses, helping him up.

I smile at the sight. "I'm the one… in the hospital." I say, and all three turn and look at me, blinking owlishly.

A moment of silence passes, until Dustin yells, "Holy shit, you're awake!" And the curly-haired boy collapses onto me, crying. I wince at the weight but lift my right hand to play with his curls. "You're alive." He whimpers. I nod, tears finally leaving my eyes after all that time being unable to shed them.

"I am. And I'm so sorry."

"Oh, my dumpling. Veronica. Oh, sweetheart." My mom cries, standing over us and reaching down a hand to play with my now loose blonde curls.

"Sorry. Didn't mean to scare you."

My mom shakes her head, wiping away tears. "It wasn't your fault. Nancy and Jonathan told us what you said. I'm sure the police will want to question you, too. When you feel better."

"Couldn't save Barb." I whisper. "Don't know where she is." And, oh God, I've just lied to my mother.

I broke my rule.

But as I look into her eyes, see how much my lie means to her, that her baby wasn't stuck in some other dimension, almost gone forever and was only abducted by some psycho? I decide to let it go. Dustin was right. Sometimes, we have to lie to protect our asses… and the people we love most in this world.

My mom shakes her head, stroking my hair some more. "They'll find her, Veronica."

"Okay." I mutter, and my guilt is mistaken for grogginess. Then I look down at Dustin. "Sorry. You're probably dirty. I stink."

He looks up and smiles a little. "No. Not anymore, at least."

"The doctors scrubbed you down." I look over to see my dad walking towards the bed, frown on his face. "A couple took some samples, but said they'd come across it before, and whatever you were covered in was harmless. I haven't seen them since."

"Probably busy." I murmur. And while part of me wants to yell at him to get out, another has decided it's tired of always pushing away. So I decide to extend an olive branch. "You taught me well. Couldn't hunt, but I could survive." I tell him.

Most of the tension leaves my dad's shoulders. "I guess I did. But you, you pulled it off. I'm proud of you, kid." I bite my lip, a warm feeling spreading in my chest. "I'm going to go get the doctor. I'll be back."

My mom wipes away a tear and kisses my forehead. "I'll come with you, Robert." The adults leave and Dustin helps prop me up against the pillows before moving his chair over to sit next to me.

"How's the girl?" I ask quietly.

"El is fine."

"El?"

"Eleven. She's like a superhero, or something. She made Troy pee his pants after the assembly for Will, before his funeral."

"Funeral? Jonathan said he's still -"

"Yeah." Dustin nods. "He's alive. He's where you were." Then he blinks, his face screwing up in anger. "You were gone for like, four days. The doctors said any longer, and you'd have succumbed to the dehydration. You were going to die, and you're asking me about El?"

"You're right, you're right. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." I tear up again. "Dustin, oh it was awful. Where I was. It was like Hawkins, but it wasn't. It wasn't home. I missed home so much. I missed you, and I was so angry that the last thing you were going to remember about me was our stupid fight."

"Veronica -"

"No. Let me talk. Okay?" He nods. "You were right." He perks up a bit, and I roll my eyes. "The first and last time. You were right about lying, and I shouldn't have been so angry. I was being a hypocrite because I lie to other people all the time. I lie to the world about who I am. That I'm cold and indifferent about people. But really, I'm scared. I don't want to push people away because I don't like them. I don't want them to leave me, only I almost let myself leave you."

"What… what do you mean?" He asks.

I take his hand and squeeze it. "It was dark, there."

"The Upside Down? That's where you went, right?" Dustin asks, and I blink in confusion. "Mr. Clarke told us… you know what, it's a long story. But you were there?"

"Yes. I was in the Upside Down." It's strange, giving it a name, and yet it's so fitting. "It really was the Upside Down. Again, it was like Hawkins. Except it's always dark, these monsters are hunting, vines move, and I couldn't find any humans."

"You looked?"

"In the woods, and the… the town." I mutter. "Couldn't get further than Loch Nora, until they started hunting me."

My brother opens his mouth, but closes it abruptly when footsteps approach the room. Dustin and I look up and see a doctor come in, his hair white and pushed back a bit. He's probably in his sixties, but he has this dangerous air to him. "Glad to see you awake, Ms. Henderson. I'm Dr. Brenner. Your other attendant had another patient to tend to, but I've been thoroughly briefed. I understand you've been through quite an ordeal."

He moves around me like a snake, checking vitals. I watch him warily, distrustful. My gut clenches nervously.

Dustin looks a little scared, too, but our parents don't notice. They're too busy asking questions, Dr. Brenner answering. But I don't hear him, too focused on watching his movements.

"Now, Veronica." The white noise fades when I hear my name and I blink at him. "You're quite the lucky girl. You've suffered heavy bruising on the left side of your body, but no broken bones. The cut on your forehead was a little infected, but we cleaned it out and it should be healing as we speak. Your lips may feel tender for a few days - they're cracked and swollen. We checked for a concussion, but your exhaustion stemmed only from dehydration and malnutrition. We found a few crumpled 3 Musketeers bars in your pocket. Was that your only source of food?"

I look over at Dustin and smile at the awe on his face, the love in his eyes. "What can I say? Nougat's the best."

"Well, at the very least it kept you alive long enough to be found. As for the medication you were prescribed for anxiety and depression," I avoid the look of shock on my dad's face, "your doctor made sure to administer the medicine through your IV. It's only the dose for the day, but I'm sure it's helping after going without it for so long. Now, might I suggest we all leave and allow Veronica to get more rest? Sleep is the best way your body can heal itself, after all."

I narrow my eyes at his tone, though once again my parents don't catch it, too distracted by the fact I'm bruised but alive. "Thank you. Doctor."

He nods and waits patiently by the door for my family to follow, my mom kissing me on the forehead while my dad gives me a hesitant pat on the right shoulder.

Dustin takes his time, though, lingering when I tug on his hand. He leans down so I can whisper in his ear, "I'm getting out. You won't be able to stop me. I don't trust him. Get to your friends, tell them what happened."

"Meet up later?"

I nod. "I'll call Jonathan and Nancy. Go. Keep your mouth shut, and your eyes open."

"Copy, Leia." He kisses my temple. "I love you. And I'm sorry, too."

"Love you, too. Thanks for saving me." He looks confused, but is ushered away by the adults.

The door closes and I sit up more, slowly moving my legs off the bed. I'm still sluggish, but I don't feel as heavy as before. But whenever I close my eyes, I expect to be in the Upside Down. I'll never be able to get any of it out of my head. Barb's screams, the monsters snarling. The vines, the air, constantly being on the run. I don't know if I'll ever be okay. And it scares me, how much I welcomed death. How ready I was to be a goddamn hypocrite and leave.

God, my therapist is going to have a field day.

I wait for the feeling to return to my legs, then carefully grab onto my IV and wince as I pull the needle out, pressing my thumb to the spot and catching the blood. I have a ridiculous need to go to the bathroom, so I rush over and do my business for… well, it's been awhile, okay?

When I'm done and feel empty but not weak, I flush, pull up the underwear the hospital thankfully supplied and wash my hands, wincing when I see my reflection.

My sun kissed skin looks dull, having lost it's glow. My hair is wild and curlier than I've ever seen it, my big green eyes appearing almost doll-like compared to my slightly sunken in face. Bruises decorate my cracked lips and wrists, and the left side of my body is throbbing. I can feel my ribs through the blue hospital gown, and how my muscles seem even more prominent thanks to my bite-of-nougat-a-day diet.

With a sigh I leave the bathroom, walking around my bed in thought. I know I have to get out of here. I need to find Jonathan and Nancy. I don't really have a plan, or the patience at this point to make one. I've spent the past few days solely relying on instinct, and barring my episodes managed to survive.

I creep over to the door and open it, peering through. The halls are empty, so I step out and close the door. I walk away, turning a corner right as a group of men and women in nurse clothes and white coats approach my door, opening it. What the hell?

"Find her. Brenner wants her at the Lab ASAP. Go!" A woman orders in a strong voice. My eyes widen and I take off down the hall, limping as I go but adrenaline forcing me to move.

A couple of nurses come walking down the same hall as me, but they're so busy gossiping that they ignore the way I blend into the wall. With a sigh of relief I walk more steadily, feet getting used to smooth, solid ground. I duck when I see my parents in the waiting room but fortunately they're facing away from me. Dustin sees me, though, mouth open a bit. I groan when the adults start to turn and back up the other way. I spin around, only to bump right into Dr. Brenner.

"Now, Ms. Henderson. I told you to rest." He reaches out to take my arm, and I just react.

I bring my left leg up to knee him, the man crumbling over in surprised pain.

"You ain't bring me to no lab, you son of a bitch." I growl, then hurry away furiously as a nurse notices I'm on the move and calls for security.

If she even is a nurse.

My bare feet pad on the cold ground as I hurry, turning corners and dodging security and hospital staff alike until I reach the changing room, having lost my pursuers. I can hear people in the bathroom so I walk over to the benches, smiling when I see a shelf between the lockers, stacked with packaged scrubs. Without wasting time, I reach for the neatly labeled "small" section and grab the first one.

Changing is easy, given how I just have to pull off my hospital gown and pull up the purple scrub pants and tie the top. I don't know what to do about the lack of shoes, but when I realize the ends of my pants are practically covering them I shrug. If I act like everything is fine, others will believe it.

I leave the changing room and wrap my hair in an untied bun before shoving the curls under the purple cap. On my way out the room, I pull on two blue gloves and a mask, covering my mouth and nose.

The hospital is still a bit of a mess when I come to the main area, and in the distance I can hear my mother yelling at someone. Dr. Brenner is missing, presumably taking charge in my would-be second abduction. As people rush around me I stop at the nurses station, turning my back and picking up the phone.

The great thing about Nancy Wheeler being a good girl?

She gets her own private phone.

I dial her number and wait for the girl to pick up. She does, breathing heavily and sounding confused. "Hi. Whom am I speaking to?"

"Damn, girl, you sound so formal."

"Oh my God, you're awake." She says, sounding a little tearful. I nod even though she can't see me.

"Yeah. I am. Listen, my doctor is a total creep. People want to take me to a lab, so I decided to get the hell out. Can you come get me?"

"Of course, yes. Jonathan and I are on our way."

"Jonathan?"

"Mhm." She sounds a little… embarrassed?

I just shrug, though. Neither one of them should be alone.

"Okay, good. Thank you. And if it isn't a problem… there's some place I need you to take me."

As soon Jonathan's car pulls into the parking lot I'm standing up from my hiding spot behind a potted plant, keeping a lookout for any interested parties. I make a break for it, bolting to the car and throwing myself into the backseat. I yelp when I tweak my left side. "Are you okay?" Jonathan immediately asks, and I shrug.

"Bruises, no broken bones, no concussion. Whatever was in the IV was packed with enough nutrition to get me moving. Physically, I'll be fine." Emotionally remains to be seen, but they're smart enough to infer that.

"Where do you need to go?" Nancy asks.

"Home, please."

"You just escaped the hospital. What if people are looking for you there?" Jonathan asks me, as though I forgot.

"Well, I need a change of clothes, and my bow."

"No. No way!"

"Why?" Nancy and Jonathan ask, looking back at me in surprise.

I blink. "So I can help you find Barb and Will."

"You're injured and recovering from nearly dying. You should be in bed, at the very least!" Nancy argues.

"Nance, I was there for four days. I know the Upside Down better than anyone! The woods, at least." She sighs, exasperated, and I look down at my hands. "Please? Barb and I were taken together. I have to find her. And in order to do so, I need my weapon."

Nancy looks back at me, Jonathan making the drive to my house. "Fine. Okay. But the minute you start to get tired, you're out."

"That's fair." I mutter, settling back in my seat.

My driveway is empty of all cars but one, the Falcon. Still we park a couple of houses down and get out, not wanting to draw too much attention. It's Saturday morning, though, if my calculations are correct. That means everyone is inside, eating breakfast and watching cartoons.

I pet my baby as I walk by her and open the door with the key hidden under a brick, tucking it back in its place as soon as the door open.

Before I can step inside, Jonathan and Nancy push me behind them and walk in first. I groan at their overprotectiveness, but stop when I see the scared looks they give me.

Fine. Just this once.

We walk in silently, closing the door behind us as we move through the house. There's no other sounds but our own, though, so we start to relax.

I leave them to stand guard and step into my room, keeping the door open a few inches. I'm still incredibly sore and a little hungry, but the thought of actually eating makes me nauseous. So I ignore my grumbling stomach and instead cross over to my cabinet, pulling the hospital clothes off me and pulling on my own underwear. My left side hurts too much to put on a bra, but that's not an issue - I've never worn one for anything other than fashion or jogging. I'm not flat-chested like some girls I know, but I'm not busty like my mom. Usually I wish I am, but today I'm just glad I'm not a size bigger than a B.

I slowly pull on a long sleeve shirt and pair of jeans, looser on me now than before until I tug on a belt. I sit on the bed to put on my socks, lacing up my sneakers and doing my best to avoid the bruises just above my ankles.I miss my green and white jacket, no doubt in some garbage bag at the hospital, and make do with my maroon-and-black bomber instead.

I walk past my rescuers and into the bathroom, brushing my teeth for almost ten minutes before doing my business again. With the purple cap off my head and my curls released, I look a little like Medusa. I hurriedly braid it back, the entwined locks ending just at the base of the back of my neck. Once again I'm shocked by how gaunt my face looks, and apply some chapstick to my lips before tucking the tube in my jacket pocket.

I want to cover my face, hide the bruises, but my only foundation was in my backpack, and who knows what happened to that. And shit, all my homework and textbooks are gone. Damn it.

Agitated by the thought that my school stuff's been, like, burned I huff back to my room and shove my Colts trucker hat. I get down on the ground - bruised knees shrieking in pain - and reach under my bed. With a relieved sigh I unscrew the cylindrical container. The sharp arrowheads glint in the morning light and I grab them all before carefully standing, duffle in hand. I dump my practice arrows out of the quiver and replace them with my hunting arrows, my weapons carefully tucked away in the zipped bag. There's something else I'll need, though. Just in case.

Hidden in my desk drawer, under a false bottom, is an extremely sharp and regularly polished hunting knife. Sheathed in faded leather, I pluck out the ankle holster and lift my right leg onto my desk chair. Jeans rolled up, I strap the holster onto my calf and slide Jonathan's old knife in, fixing my pants so it's hidden.

With a nod to my friends we move out, and I grab the keys I'd left behind Tuesday night, locking up. I feel so much better now that I'm wearing normal clothes. And shoes. And have my weapons.

It's quiet in the car. Too quiet. "I was scared." I admit as we drive away from my neighborhood and head towards town. Nancy and Jonathan stay silent. "Down there, wherever I was, it was worse than a nightmare. And now, whenever I look around, it's like I can see that other world bleeding into ours." I breathe out. "You know, I was close to giving up. So close. But then I heard you. Both of you. It was like a dream. I'm so glad it was real." I tear up and reach forward to grab Nancy's elbow, and her eyes become wet as well. "You saved me, Nance. You too, John. I'm never going to forget what happened down there. But it gets a little easier, when I remind myself that it ended with you bringing me home." I sniffle and look away. "That was me, trying to be open. I know I act like I don't trust people, which I don't. But you two, well, for lack of a better phrase, I trust you both with my life." Nancy sends me an award-winning smile, and I catch the proud look in Jonathan's eyes from the rear view mirror.

Look at me, thawing in front of my friends.

Maybe this is really the Upside Down.

Nancy and Jonathan make the executive decision to have me wait in the car while they stop at Hunting & Camping, not wanting me to draw any unnecessary attention. I agree, though, easily. Mark has a big mouth.

I twiddle my thumbs as I wait, humming to myself. I had given them a pretty extensive list - a few packs of .38 specials, a gas tank, bear traps, lighter fluid, the works. Because let's face it, I'm the Huntress around here.

Bored out of my mind though and feeling a bit like a dog, I close my eyes. The world flashes in a series of images until I'm seeing vines, ash, and a dark fog. I gasp, fighting to get out of there, something wrapping around me like a vice. I can't breathe, the vines are getting tighter.

I'd been running through the woods, only for two vines to wrap around me and pull me down on my ass. I had thrashed and kicked, tugging and pulling on them as the slimy flora got tighter and tighter, slithered higher and higher. I reached out my hands, scrambling to find something, anything. I had almost cried in relief when my right limb wrapped around a sharp rock and I stabbed it all over the vines, until they pulled off me in pain.

Only this time I don't have a rock. But I do have a knife. With quick hands I roll up my pants to grab Jonathan's former weapon, flipping it in my hand and slashing -

"Veronica!" I open my eyes and realize my knife is inches from the headrest of the driver's seat, Nancy and Jonathan both looking at me from outside. I smile innocently and tuck the blade back into its holster. "What the hell are you doing?" Jonathan whisper yells, looking around nervously.

"Practicing." Is all I say, the lie slipping out easily.

I'm losing my damn mind, that's what I'm doing.

"Hey, Nance!" I hear someone yell, both friends turning as a passing car honks. "Can't wait to see your movie!"

That's Fred, a dick on the basketball team. One of many, actually.

I get out of the car before either one of my friends can stop me, looking at Nancy in confusion. "Okay, what the hell is Fred talking about?"

"What the hell was that?" Jonathan asks at the same time.

"I don't know." Nancy looks around, as puzzled as we are. Then she gets a look on her face, and starts to walk away.

"What?" Jonathan asks as she passes him, wordlessly. The two of us look at each other and rush after her, pushing past fellow Hawkins citizens as we move. "What? Hey! Where are you going?" Jonathan calls. I stagger after them, the last to arrive at the movie theater. We stare up at the Hawk's marquee, my vision flaring red when I see what was written.

"Starring Nancy The Slut Wheeler" has been graffitied in red next to the "All The Right Moves" sign.

My breathing gets heavy, and I picture vines around it instead, crawling and hiding the ugly words.

And when I hear Tommy's distinct laugh in the alley next to the theater, I know exactly who did it. But before I can storm in, Nancy holds me back, clenching her teeth. "Stay. They can't see you. I'll handle this." I watch as she storms away, towards the laughter, Jonathan pleading with her to just wait.

I stand at the corner of the alleyway, hidden from sight but not from their words, Jonathan closer to the alley than to me, and I tilt my head when I see the worry painted all over my best friend's face. Then I smile when I hear a loud slap, knowing it was Nancy. "What is wrong with you?"

"What's wrong with me?" Steve asks in disgust. "What's wrong with you? I was worried about you. I can't believe that I was actually worried about you." Steve scoffs, my chest tightening. Traitor. My heart is a traitor.

"What are you talking about?" Nancy questions, beyond confused.

"I wouldn't lie if I were you." Carol responds, and I grit my teeth, Jonathan holding me back with just one hand, shaking his head before disappearing around the corner. I huff and cross my arms. "You don't want to be known as the lying slut now, do you?"

"Speak of the devil." Tommy announces. I peer over the side, face hidden behind the back steps of the theater. "Hi."

"You came by last night." Nancy pieces together, and I narrow my eyes. What happened last night?

"Ding, ding, ding! Does she get a prize?" Carol asks sardonically.

"Look, I don't know what you think you saw, but it wasn't like that." Nancy tells Steve.

He just scoffs again. "What, you just let him in your room to… study?"

"Or for another pervy photo session?" Tommy asks.

Okay, what the actual hell is going? What the fuck did I miss?

"We were just -"

"You were just, what? Finish that sentence. Finish that sentence." Steve bites out, and I worriedly shift, wincing when my full weight goes onto my ankle. I move back. He scoffs. "Go to hell, Nancy."

"Come on Nancy. Let's just leave." Jonathan suggests.

"You know what Byers? I'm actually kind of impressed. I always took you for a queer but I guess you're just a little screw-up like your father. Oh, yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah. That house is full of screw-ups." My vision gets red again as I watch Steve start pushing Jonathan as he walks away. "You know, I guess I really shouldn't be surprised. A bunch of screw-ups in your family." Jonathan stops, and Steve keeps going, even as Nancy tells him to just keep walking. "Your mom… I mean, I'm not even surprised what happened to your brother. I'm sorry to be the one to have to tell you but the Byers, their family is a disgrace to the entire -"

And with a bam, Steve shuts up, grunting. I watch in fear as he roars and leaps at Jonathan, throwing him on the car and punching my best friend in the face before slamming him onto the ground. Before he can lean down and beat the shit out of him, I step away from the alley corner.

"Stop!" I scream. My friends are shaking their heads at me, Nancy holding up a recently-punched Jonathan, but I stalk forward.

Steve takes a step back, his brown eyes wide and lips parted, like the air was just taken right out of his lungs. "Veronica?" He whispers, staring at me, fist unfurling. His warm eyes flicker worriedly over the bruises on my face. I can hear Tommy, Carol, and Nicole murmuring, looking at me like they've seen a ghost.

"Steve." I respond coldly, continuing to advance towards him. This time though, he comes forward.

"Where... Where were you? What happened?" He takes off my hat, fingers lightly brushing the gauze on my hairline. The trail down to a bruise on my chin, then just under my cracked and raw bottom lip. He strokes it for a second before pulling his hand back, still holding my hat. I don't have time to decipher what his wet eyes mean. Instead, I let my green eyes turn to ice. Because I know I said I'd take a rain check on it, but right now I can't.

The Ice Queen is back by unpopular demand.

"Where I was made Hell look like paradise. Nancy and Jonathan helped me, after I was let go. I don't know what you think happened between them, but it didn't. Because she likes you, and would never hurt you." I glare even harder, words coming out chilly. Even Carol is backing away. "You. Are an asshole. How dare you say that about the Byerses when they're grieving? How dare you say that shit to my best friend?" I shove at him, and he flinches back.

"Veronica -"

I shake my head. "No. This is the part where I talk, and you listen." I stab at his chest with the tips of my fingers, pushing him back so more. "All of you." I look around at the gathering of dicks, smiling wickedly and licking my still cracked lips. "Let me be clear. You all may be big fish here, but out there? It's a big world. A whole ocean." I scoff, smirking sardonically. "You're barely plankton." I look up at Steve, not sure if I'm angry or disappointed. "Stop acting like you're God's greatest gift to mankind, and get some goddamn humility and perspective." I growl, voice hoarse. "Because you won't get very far in life by acting like this, and you're going to end up peaking in high school. I can see it now. King Steve, wasting away in a house, unhappy and living out the rest of his life through his kids. Wanting nothing more than to be back in the 'good old days'."

He glares, coming closer, brown eyes pained. "Oh yeah? Well you're not that great, either. I bet whoever had you let you go because they knew you're nothing." I bite the inside of my lip. "How does it feel to know even a psychopath doesn't want you?"

"A little relieved, to be honest." I snark back, heart stuttering.

"Yeah, well, he should have let Barb go, instead of you." My brain flashes with her shrill cries, and I feel her hands clenching mine, so I squeeze them shut, only for my nails to dig into my palms and break skin. Still, I refuse to move away. In the background I can hear my best friend struggling, Nancy holding him back. "You and Byers should get together, when Nancy's had her fill of him. She's good at that, using guys -"

Before I can stop him, Jonathan is running past me and socking Steve in the face. "Jonathan, stop!" I try to pull him back, only to stumble. Nancy catches me, and we hear a cop car in the distance.

"Go! Get out of here! Go!" Nancy orders, ponytail swinging. I nod and push past Steve's three friends as they try to stop the fight. My cap lays forgotten on the ground, so I crouch down to tug it back onto my head. I can hear the cop car getting closer and hide in another alley, head bowed down and my hands in my pockets. With the four bullies running past me and Callahan yelling, "I've got this one!" I can only assume Jonathan's being cuffed. Which means I have to get into the police station undetected.

Well, that all escalated very quickly.