The woods stretched on in dark shadows and tangled roots as they trudged forward, their breath fogging in the chilled, heavy air. Robin and Nancy led at the front, while Eddie and Dove walked together in the middle. Steve brought up the rear, his flashlight cutting through the trees as he pointed it at every rustle and creak, his eyes scanning their surroundings.
Eddie leaned closer to Dove, a smirk tugging at his lips. "So.. you and Harrington have been pretty chummy these past few days."
Dove rolled her eyes, glancing back at Steve, who was watching the woods with focused intensity. She turned back to Eddie, shrugging. "He's.. different than I remember."
Eddie's eyebrows shot up, a playful glint in his eye. "So.. less of a douchebag?"
She laughed, giving him a light shove. "He was never adouchebag." Eddie shot her a look that was full of skepticism. Dove sighed, conceding, "Okay, fine, maybe he did some douchey things, but that doesn't make him a douchebag."
"Fair enough," Eddie replied, chuckling. He gave her a nudge. "Just saying, maybe it's time to give him another shot."
Dove's eyes widened, genuine surprise in her expression. "I never thought I'd see the day where Eddie Munson was Team Steve. You practically begged me to break up with him."
Eddie rolled his eyes dramatically, waving her off. "Pfft, I did not. You just chose to interpret my words that way."
Dove snorted, shaking her head at him. "Right, Idefinitelymisinterpreted what you meant when you said 'ditch Harrington'."
Eddie shrugged, the corners of his mouth quirking up. "Hey, can you blame me? He was.. you know, all hair and no sense back then."
She rolled her eyes. "He had sense. He just.. needed to find it."
Eddie laughed, nudging her again. "Yeah, sure, if you say so. But maybe now the guy's actually.. I don't know, tolerable?"
She gave him a sidelong glance, a grin forming on her lips. "I can't talk to you when you get like this."
With a playful huff, Dove quickened her pace, moving up to join Nancy and Robin at the front. Eddie watched her go, a smirk lingering on his face before he slowed down and fell in step next to Steve.
Dove caught up to Nancy and Robin, glancing around the dark woods as they picked their way through the trees. "Hey, Nance," she murmured, "are we almost there?"
Nancy nodded, eyes scanning ahead. "Just a little further. My house should be just up that hill."
The ground suddenly trembled beneath them, sending a violent shudder through the woods. They stumbled, struggling to keep their balance as roots and branches shifted underfoot. Robin went down with a thud, groaning as she braced herself on the dirt.
"Second on my list of least favorite things—earthquakes," she muttered. "Seriously, I'm unsteady enough as it is."
Dove's gaze darted to Nancy, who steadied herself against a tree before taking off, sprinting up the trail. Dove scrambled to her feet, dusting herself off as she called out after her. "Nancy, where are you going?"
Dove and Robin exchanged a glance, then hurried after Nancy, weaving through the undergrowth until they finally caught up. Nancy had come to a standstill at the edge of the woods, her eyes fixed on something in the distance.
A sudden flash of red lightning cracked through the sky, illuminating the eerie outline of Nancy's house in a crimson glow. The bolt struck with a reverberating boom, shaking the ground beneath them, and casting monstrous shadows across the gnarled trees and vines.
Nancy turned, urgency flashing in her eyes. "Come on," she called, her voice unwavering as she stepped forward toward the house. The others fell into step behind her, shoes crunching against the unnaturally twisted earth as they moved cautiously yet purposefully through the ominous stillness.
Dove's heart pounded, the faint remnants of adrenaline from the last quake mixing with a deeper dread. She kept close to Steve, casting glances around them, feeling the weight of each step as they neared the towering, darkened shape of Nancy's home.
As they reached the edge of the yard, a chill settled in the air, and even the persistent sounds of the Upside Down seemed to fade, leaving only the faint hum of tension.
They stepped through the threshold cautiously, Nancy leading the way into the hollow, dark space of her own home, now unrecognizable in the Upside Down. Dove's eyes widened as she took in the scene—a thick, sinewy network of vines covered every surface, crawling up the walls and twisting around the banisters, their blackened forms pulsing faintly. The air felt heavy, damp with decay, and an unnatural silence hung around them.
Robin's voice cut through the eerie quiet, laced with a hint of nervous humor. "I think it might be time to get a maid, Wheeler."
Nancy shot her a look over her shoulder, quick and tense. "Come on. I don't want to stay here any longer than we have to."
They moved swiftly, following her lead up the stairs, the wooden boards creaking under their weight. Dove's breath hitched at each step, her senses on high alert as she and Steve lagged slightly behind the others. She felt a gentle touch on her arm, stopping her mid-step. Steve was beside her, his flashlight beam trained down the dim hallway. She looked up, her heart skipping a beat at his expression, his eyes focused, almost concerned.
"Do you hear that?" he whispered, the question hanging in the charged air between them.
Dove shook her head, trying to tune in to whatever he'd picked up on. But then, as she stilled herself, she caught it—the faint, unmistakable sound of Dustin's voice, crackling as though carried on a distant breeze.
Her pulse quickened. "It can't be.."
They sprinted down the hall, the faint, distorted voices of Dustin, Erica, and Lucas growing clearer with each step. As they reached the dining room, Dove's heart pounded, her eyes scanning wildly around. The voices were unmistakably theirs, but muffled, warped, like they were calling from somewhere just out of reach.
Steve spun in a frantic circle, his flashlight beam sweeping the ceiling. "Dustin!" he shouted, desperation thickening his voice.
Dove joined him, her voice cracking as she yelled, "Dustin! Can you here us?!"
The others came pounding down the stairs, their expressions a mix of confusion and alarm. Nancy shot them a bewildered look. "What the hell are you two doing?"
Steve turned to her, his eyes alight with both frustration and urgency. "He's here. Henderson. That little shit, he's here. He's like.." Steve shot Dove an urgent look.
"Just listen," Dove whispered, her heart pounding. The room fell silent, and Dove's chest tightened, doubt creeping in. Was it real? Had she imagined it? But just then, Dustin's unmistakable voice cut through, mentioning something about a gate.
Nancy's eyes went wide as she turned to the others, who now began to frantically call out for Dustin as well, their voices overlapping as they searched every corner of the room.
Steve threw his hands up, muttering, "Alright, either this kid can't hear us, or he's being a total douchebag."
Nancy's spoke up from the corner of the room, a flash of realization in her eyes. "Will found a way. He spoke to Joyce through the lights." She rushed to a table lamp, trying to turn it on, but nothing happened.
"Try the switch," Steve suggested, and Nancy darted to the wall, flicking it up and down rapidly. Dove's gaze fixed on the dining room light above them, which flickered faintly before surging with a dim, pulsing glow, casting an eerie light across the room.
"Guys," Dove whispered, nodding toward the chandelier. The others followed her gaze, and Steve aimed his flashlight at the flickering light as Dustin's voice came through, faint and distorted, like a distant echo.
Nancy took a step forward, reaching up toward the light. The glow intensified, casting her fingers in a strange, shimmering aura as if the air around them was charged. She pulled her hand back, eyes wide, and the others instinctively reached forward, adding their own hands to the space near the light. Dove reached her hand closer, and an electric, static-like sensation pricked at her fingertips. The chandelier's glow brightened with their collective energy, humming faintly in a pulse that almost felt alive.
Steve exhaled, his eyes wide, his face lit by the soft glow of the light. "It.. tickles," he murmured as the light pulsed under their touch.
Robin laughed, her voice light with amazement. "It kinda feels.. good?" She glanced around, a faint smile lifting the corners of her mouth, as if they'd stumbled on something incredible.
"Does anyone know Morse code?" Nancy asked, her voice a whisper in the dim glow.
Robin and Steve both exchanged glances, muttering soft, reluctant, "No's."
Eddie, however, raised his brow, his expression caught somewhere between curiosity and mischief. "Wait, does SOS count?" he asked, his gaze moving from face to face. "Is that.. Is that good?"
Dove nodded, her voice barely above a whisper. "Do it."
Eddie inhaled deeply, then reached up toward the light, tapping out the pattern with quick, steady movements. Dot-dot-dot, dash-dash-dash, dot-dot-dot—the simple rhythm felt heavy with meaning in the silence of the room. Each tap seemed to deepen the glow, the light swelling and receding in time with his message.
They all held their breath, a collective tension rippling through the group as Eddie continued, repeating the message over and over. The air around them felt alive, charged with anticipation.
Just as they were ready to give up, Dustin's voice cut through, faint but unmistakable. It sounded garbled, like he was speaking underwater, but there was no doubt it was him.
"Hel—ere? Can.. hear me?"
The group froze, a mix of shock and hope flashing across their faces. Dove's heart skipped, and she shoved her hand toward the light, making it grow brighter.
"Guys!" Dustin's voice came again, slightly clearer this time. "If you're.. need.. help.."
Without hesitation, they all reached forward, pressing their hands to the lamp. The light responded, pulsing in answer to their collective touch, almost like it was alive.
"Dustin, we're here," Dove whispered, as if he could somehow hear her, her fingers tingling in the light.
As Dustin's garbled words reached them—"Gotta.. somewhere private.. cops.."—Dove glanced at a lamp on the other side of the room. She hesitated, then slowly walked toward it, reaching out with her hand. The lamp's bulb glowed faintly, responding to her presence with a soft, pulsing warmth.
A spark of realization flashed in Dove's eyes. She lifted her hand and took a step back, the light dimming in response. Without a word, she reached out to another lamp in the hallway, and as her fingers brushed its shade, it flared to life, glowing a little brighter than before.
One by one, she moved to each light along the way, creating a soft, glowing trail that led up the stairs toward Nancy's room. The group followed behind her, watching in awe as each light pulsed in sync with Dove's movement.
They stepped cautiously into Nancy's room, drawn forward by the soft, glowing lights that Dove had led through the house. As they gathered around Nancy's bed, they listened to the faint voices crackling through from the other side.
"Just.. a second," Dustin's voice murmured, his words garbled but still recognizable. The group exchanged tense glances, each of them holding their breath as they waited.
A few heartbeats later, a small section of the bed began to shimmer—a patch of glittering light illuminating the faded fabric, like particles were dancing across the surface.
They leaned in closer, transfixed. Steve's eyes darted from the glowing patch to the others around him, his face a mix of confusion and awe. Dove, her hand hovering over the light, could feel an almost magnetic pull, like the veil between their worlds was whisper-thin here.
Through the static, Dustin's voice came through again, faint but clearer than before. "..seeing this?" he asked.
Dove looked up, her eyes wide. "Yes," she whispered, even though she knew he couldn't hear her. They each nodded in unison, their expressions a blend of relief and determination.
Nancy swiped her hand through the light, and the particles responded, swirling around her fingers in a shimmering dance, just like the lights downstairs had. It was surreal, like brushing her hand through a layer of dust that glowed with energy. As her fingers trailed through, Dustin's laughter echoed faintly through the veil, reassuring and grounding them.
"..stand by," his voice crackled, and the particles dimmed, fading to a soft glow. A moment later, Dustin's voice came again. "..try it now."
Nancy looked back at the others, determination lighting up her face. She reached forward, carefully drawing her fingers in the shape of an 'H' and then an 'I'. For a tense second, they waited, hearts pounding.
"..it worked!" Dustin's voice came through, triumphant and laced with excitement.
The room burst into quiet celebration, their laughter mingling in hushed excitement. Eddie grinned wide, turning to Dove and giving her a quick high-five. Steve, unable to resist, pulled her into a hug, his arm wrapping around her shoulders quickly before letting go just as fast.
Dove glanced up at him, smiling softly, the relief and elation mirrored in both their faces.
Nancy's brow furrowed as she concentrated, her fingers hovering over the shimmering particles. "Okay, um.." she murmured, and carefully drew out each letter, spelling 'S-T-U-C-K' in the glowing mist.
Eddie nodded along as he watched, murmuring, "Yes, we are."
"..Watergate?" Dustin's voice broke through.
Steve frowned, confusion creasing his brow. "What the hell is Watergate?"
Robin shot him a squinting, incredulous look. "Because it's in water, and it's a gate," she replied with a deadpan expression.
Eddie shrugged, smirking. "That's cute."
Nancy mumbled softly to herself, contemplating her next move before carefully spelling out another word: 'G-U-A-R-D-E-D.'
Dustin's voice crackled faintly through the veil again, "..have a theory.. help.."
Robin nodded eagerly at the faint response, muttering to herself, "Yes, genius child."
"..Only gate.. murder site.."
Nancy looked up from the particles, her brows knitting together in confusion. "Does anyone understand what he's talking about?"
Everyone exchanged looks, collectively shaking their heads, each of them wearing a puzzled expression and mumbling "No."
Nancy drew a question mark in the particles.
Dustin's voice crackled through again, sounding exasperated. "..Seriously?.. Right on the money.. trust me!"
Steve rolled his eyes, muttering, "Jesus Christ, this kid's gotta get his ego in check."
Eddie nodded in agreement, a slight grin on his face. "It's his tone, right?"
Dove gave them a look, crossing her arms. "He is usually right about this stuff."
Eddie shook his head. "You know, Dove, you're kinda the reason he's like thi—"
Nancy cut him off, her eyes flashing with determination. "Eddie, how far is your trailer?"
Eddie raised his eyebrows at the sudden question but answered, "Seven miles."
Robin leaned in closer. "Nancy? Uh, I know your house here is like, weirdly, creepily frozen in time and shit, but haven't you always had bikes?"
Nancy's eyes lit up, catching on to Robin's plan, and she nodded.