Steve's grip on her hand tightened, his fingers digging into hers as they were pulled deeper into the cold darkness. Dove's chest burned as water surged into her mouth and down her throat, an icy pressure filling her lungs. She tried to scream, but only bubbles escaped, scattering in the murky water. Her heart pounded as everything began to blur, a flash of red slicing through the darkness just before a sickening, fleshy membrane enveloped them, forcing them through with a wet, suffocating resistance.
Their bodies hit the ground with a jarring impact, knocking them apart and forcing the last bit of air from Dove's lungs. The rough, alien surface scraped against her hands and knees, the air around her thick and stale. Coughing violently, she heaved up the water from her lungs, each gasp like swallowing fire.
Dove finally managed to lift her head, her vision clearing just enough to see Steve a few feet away, struggling as he was dragged further by a slick, dark tentacle coiled tightly around his ankle. Her heart clenched as she forced herself up, her voice raw and barely above a whisper. "Steve!"
As Dove stumbled toward him, she tried to ignore the unsettling squish of the tentacle-like roots covering the ground, winding through every inch like veins pulsing with dark energy.
Steve was thrown against a massive, gnarled root that rose from the ground like a twisted pillar. As he crashed into it, the tentacle wrapped around his ankle slackened, finally releasing him. He staggered to his feet just as Dove reached him, her breathing shallow and quick, her heart pounding in her ears.
Together, they scanned their surroundings, watching as a flash of blood-red lightning split the sky, illuminating the twisted forest in the distance. In every direction, the landscape was barren yet grotesquely alive. The ground was carpeted in a sickly gray mold, pulsing faintly with each flicker of red lightning. A shiver ran down Dove's spine as she spotted shadowy shapes flying in the distance, moving through the trees.
The silence around them was thick and ominous, broken only by the occasional crackling of the red lightning above, casting brief, haunting shadows over their faces as they stood, side by side, in this nightmarish version of the world.
A guttural snarl broke through the thick silence, freezing Dove and Steve in place. Their heads snapped toward the noise, eyes wide as a bat-like creature hurtled toward them, its jaws stretched wide to reveal rows of jagged, needle-sharp teeth. Steve's hand tightened around Dove's, yanking her out of her paralysis. Without a word, they bolted, their footsteps pounding over the root-infested ground as they raced toward an old, decayed boat that lay abandoned, encrusted in black, pulsing vines.
Shrieks and high-pitched screeches echoed around them, growing louder by the second. The air buzzed with the flapping of leathery wings as more of the creatures appeared, swooping down from the sky, circling them like vultures. They came from all directions, forming a deadly, tightening ring.
Dove felt a surge of determination slice through her fear. She pulled her hand away from Steve's, eyes narrowing on the boat. She rushed toward it, grabbing two splintered oars that lay buried beneath a thick mat of roots. She tossed one to Steve, who caught it without hesitation, his eyes hardening with resolve.
They braced themselves, standing back-to-back, the wooden oars gripped tightly in their hands as the creatures began their attack. The first bat swooped down, and Dove swung the oar, striking it mid-air and sending it flying back with a furious screech. Steve mirrored her movements, swinging the oar with practiced strength, knocking another creature aside. But they were relentless, one after another diving at them, forcing Steve and Dove apart as they fended off the swarm.
Dove's breaths came fast and shallow, her heart hammering as she swung the oar in every direction, each strike a desperate attempt to keep the creatures at bay. The bats were fast, darting through the air, their claws and teeth snapping dangerously close. She gritted her teeth, barely dodging as one swooped down, claws grazing her arm and drawing a thin line of blood. A surge of pain shot through her, but she didn't falter. She spun, landing a brutal blow to the creature, sending it sprawling to the ground.
Steve grunted as he swung his oar in a wide arc, narrowly avoiding another bat as it dove toward him. His face was set in grim determination, eyes sharp with adrenaline as he fought beside her, every movement precise and fierce. In the flickering light of the red sky, their gazes met across the battlefield of twisted roots and screeching creatures.
One of the bats swooped down low, catching Steve completely off guard. Its tail whipped around his neck, tightening with a crushing force and yanking him harshly to the ground. His oar clattered to the side as his hands flew to his throat, fingers desperately clawing at the creature's tail, trying to loosen its merciless grip. His face twisted in pain, his breaths coming in desperate, shallow gasps as he fought against the creature's strangling hold.
"Steve!" Dove shouted, panic surging through her as she batted another creature out of her way. She could see the strain in his eyes, the helpless fight in his struggling fingers as he tried to pry the tail loose. Her heart pounded in her chest, fear clawing at her as she tried to reach him.
Another bat swooped down, sinking its teeth into the side of his stomach, its jaws clamping down just above his hip. Steve's body jolted, a strangled cry tearing from his lips as blood began drip down his side. He tried to shove it away, but his movements were weakening, his breaths fading as the creature's tail continued to cut off his air.
Dove swung her oar again, knocking another bat out of the way as it lunged for her. Another creature bit into Steve's other side, its teeth tearing through flesh with brutal efficiency. His face contorted with pain, and Dove could see the anguish in his eyes as he tried, but failed, to fend off the attackers.
Dove's gaze fell on the raw, exposed skin of Steve's torso, already marred with blood where the creatures' teeth had sunk in. The bats' teeth tore through him, their bites leaving jagged, bloody wounds across his bare skin, each bite marking him with an agonizing new line of red. The sight drove a surge of fury and desperation through her, giving her strength she didn't know she had.
"Get off him!" she screamed, gripping the oar with white knuckles as she lunged forward, smashing one bat out of the air just before it could take another bite. She swung again, striking the creature that was wrapped around his neck, its hold finally loosening enough for Steve to draw in a shuddering gasp of air, his chest heaving with relief and pain.
Before she could catch her breath, a flash of movement came from the side. Nancy, Robin, and Eddie burst into view, rushing toward them. Without hesitation, they joined the fray, fighting alongside her and Steve as if they'd trained for this moment their entire lives.
Dove didn't waste the chance. She dropped to her knees beside Steve, wrapping an arm around his shoulder and helping him to his feet, feeling the warmth of his blood seeping against her as he gritted his teeth and gripped her back.
More bats swooped down, their shrieks piercing the air. But now, with the five of them fighting together, they moved in unison, an instinctive rhythm settling over them. As they fought, Dove heard a sickening snarl behind her. She didn't have time to react before she felt claws digging into her back, tearing through her shirt and scraping her skin. She screamed, arching forward, but before she could twist around, Steve was there, yanking the bat off her with a roar. He swung it into the ground like an axe, smashing its body with a bone-crunching sound, then stomped down hard, tearing it in half in a single, fierce motion,a thick string of dark blood dripped from his mouth.
Dove's eyes caught the line of blood, a wave of worry tightening her chest, but Steve only wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. His face was set, fierce and protective, his eyes blazing as he scanned their surroundings, ready for the next attack.
But the next attack didn't come. The bats retreated, screeching as they disappeared into the dense, twisted trees, leaving an eerie silence in their wake.
Dove rushed to Steve's side, her hand immediately moving to steady him as his shoulders sagged with exhaustion. Behind them, Eddie swore under his breath, his wide eyes darting wildly, taking in their surroundings.
Steve panted, his head drooping as he glanced down at his stomach, where bite marks and scratches marred his skin. Most of them were minor, angry red punctures and shallow slashes, but one on his side was deeper, blood steadily oozing from the ragged wound.
Dove carefully brushed her fingers over his side, assessing the injury. Steve winced, but managed a crooked smile, his voice weak. "They only got about a pound of flesh."
"Maybe two." Dove said, looking up at him.
"Do you think these things have rabies?" Robin asked as she crouched over one of the dead bats. "Like, freaky Upside Down rabies?"
"Upside Down rabies?" Eddie echoed, still looking like he was on the edge of a breakdown. "Is that a thing? Because if that's a thing, I might actually throw up."
Steve chuckled, but it quickly turned into a wince, his hand instinctively clutching his side. "Guess we'll find out soon enough."
Dove shot him a look, her worry etched deeply into her face. "Let's not joke about that, okay?"
"I'm not joking," Robin said, standing up and brushing off her knees. "Rabies is, like, my number one fear. And I think maybe we should get you to a doctor soon because once the symptoms set in, it's too late. You're already, like, dead."
Dove stared at Robin, wondering if she was being serious, when she felt a warm sensation trickling down her upper lip. She reached up, swiping her fingers under her nose, and pulled them back, staring at the smear of crimson on her skin.
"Vecna knows we're here," she whispered, the words barely escaping her mouth before a deafening cacophony of screeches filled the air, echoing from somewhere in the distance.
"The woods," Nancy said, her voice sharp and steady. They locked eyes, a shared understanding passing between them, and then, without another word, they bolted toward the thick line of trees, feet pounding against the twisted, root-covered ground.
Dove's throat burned with each gasp as they ran, her heart pounding so hard it felt like it might burst. They finally reached the shadow of Skull Rock, each of them diving under the natural shelter, pressing close to the cold stone as the swarm of bats passed, their screeches piercing the heavy, suffocating silence around them.
Huddled together, they crouched low, holding their breath as hundreds of leathery wings beat overhead, filling the sky with dark, chaotic motion. Dove's hand clutched her side as she tried to calm her breathing, the ache in her lungs echoing the terror they all felt.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the last of the bats passed, the air around them settling into an uneasy stillness. Robin was the first to uncoil from her crouched position, her voice breaking the silence with a shaky laugh. "Okay.. that was close," she muttered, crawling out from under the rock and glancing up at the now-empty sky.
Dove followed, straightening slowly, as they all emerged from their hiding spot, exchanging wary glances. As Steve straightened up, he stumbled, his hand reaching out to steady himself against Skull Rock, his other hand clutching his side. Dove looked back at him, concern flashing across her face. He managed a weak smile, "I'm fine," he insisted, though his voice lacked conviction.
Dove stepped closer, gently but firmly moving his hand away. Blood immediately began to well up from the wound. "You're not fine, Steve. You're losing blood."
Reluctantly, Steve allowed her to help him sit, his hand pressing against his side as he practically collapsed to the ground. He grunted in pain, his face paling even more as he settled down, and Dove carefully applied pressure with her hands, her gaze fixed on his wound. Blood pooled around her fingers, and she pressed harder, her own expression turning tense and determined.
Robin crouched beside them, offering a soft, encouraging smile. "Okay, so, the good news here is that I'm pretty sure wooziness is not a common symptom of rabies. But if you start, I don't know, having hallucinations or muscle spasms, or if you start feeling aggressive—like you want to punch me or something—then just totally let me know."
"I kinda wanna punch you," Steve muttered, a faint smirk tugging at his lips despite the pain.
Robin laughed nervously. "Sense of humor's still intact. That's a good sign."
Nancy tapped Dove's shoulder and handed her a long strip of her torn sweater. Dove took it, gently helping Steve lean forward. "This is gonna hurt," she warned, meeting his eyes. He nodded, bracing himself, and she wrapped the fabric tightly around his waist. He flinched, his breath hitching as she pulled it firm, every twist drawing a low hiss of pain from him. "Sorry," she whispered, her voice filled with regretful determination.
"It's okay," Steve assured her, throwing his head back, his hand raking through his hair as he tried to breathe through the pain. Dove tightened the fabric one last time, securing it in place with a knot, she glanced up, surprised to find Steve already watching her. His gaze held a warmth, an affection that softened the sharp edges of the moment.
"Thanks," he murmured, his voice soft, almost vulnerable.
"Of course." She nodded, her own gaze steady as she tried to convey all the reassurance she could in that brief, silent exchange.
For a heartbeat, the chaos around them faded, leaving just the two of them in that sliver of calm, before Dove straightened and took a steadying breath, her focus shifting back to their surroundings as the urgency of their situation crept in again.
Eddie carefully climbed up to the peak of Skull Rock, squinting as he took in the twisted, desolate landscape. "So, uh," he called down, a hint of bewildered humor in his voice, "this place is like Hawkins but with monsters and nasty shit?"
Nancy looked up. "Pretty much." Eddie whistled low, starting his descent and Nancy quickly warned, "Watch out for the vines. It's all a hive mind."
"It's a what?" Eddie asked, glancing around like he could feel the ground itself moving under him.
Steve sighed, explaining, "All the creepy crawlies around here, dude. They're, like, one or something. Step on a vine, you're stepping on a bat, you're stepping on Vecna."
Eddie blinked, muttering, "Shit," as he gingerly picked his way down, making sure to avoid every vine he could spot. The others watched as he slowly, comically, maneuvered down, his eyes darting around, clearly spooked but trying to play it cool.
Robin crossed her arms, glancing out into the hazy landscape. "But everything from our world is still here, right? Except people, obviously."
Nancy nodded. "As far as I understand, yeah."
"So, theoretically.." Robin gestured to the twisted shadows of Hawkins in the distance, her eyes gleaming with a plan. "We could go to the police station and steal guns and grenades and whatever we need to blow up those bat things that are guarding the gate."
Steve scoffed, rubbing his neck. "I highly doubt the Hawkins PD has grenades, Robin. Guns, though, yeah. Probably."
Nancy's eyes lit up as an idea sparked. "We don't have to go all the way downtown for guns," she said thoughtfully. "I have guns in my bedroom."
Everyone turned to her in surprise, with Eddie chuckling under his breath. "You? Nancy Wheeler? Have guns—plural—in your bedroom?"
Robin grinned, clearly amused. "Full of surprises, isn't she?"
Nancy shrugged, a faint smirk on her lips. "A Russian Makarov and a revolver."
"Yeah," Steve stepped forward, raising his brows. "You almost shot me with that one."
Nancy's smirk grew into a challenging smile. "You almost deserved it."
As the tension lightened, Eddie tossed his jean vest to Steve, catching him off guard and hitting him square in the face. "For your modesty, dude."
Steve sighed, shrugging the vest on as everyone exchanged small, tense smiles.
The ground suddenly shuddered beneath them, sending a deep, unsettling tremor through their bones. Eddie stumbled, landing hard on his side, and Robin staggered forward, colliding into Nancy. Both fell to the ground, their gasps filling the tense silence as the world continued to shake. Steve's arm instinctively wrapped around Dove's shoulders, pulling her close and bracing them both against Skull Rock. They held each other there, gripping tightly as the earth stilled once more, leaving an ominous calm in its wake.
Everyone panted, their breaths visible in the chilled air. Fear hung heavy, sinking deeper when a low, distant bray of a creature echoed through the woods. Their heads snapped up toward the source of the sound, eyes wide.
Eddie's voice was tense, the humor strained. "So, yeah, guns seem like a pretty good idea to me."
Robin nodded quickly. "Yeah, me too."
"So, what are we waiting for?" Steve asked, taking a barely noticeable limp as he stepped forward and switched on his flashlight, casting a faint beam through the tangled woods. Together, they fell into formation, moving cautiously yet purposefully through the thick trees, the woods around them echoing with strange sounds as they made their way toward town.