The trailer park came into view, and they finally pulled their bikes up to Eddie's trailer, breathing heavily from the long ride. The eerie stillness of the Upside Down lingered around them, broken only by distant echoes of creatures hidden in the fog, their eerie calls reverberating through the air like ghostly reminders of the world they were trapped in.
Robin let out a shaky laugh, wiping the sweat from her brow. "That's gotta be a Guinness World Record. Most miles traveled interdimensionally."
Steve coughed, pulling the flashlight from his pocket. "Just inhaled a bunch of that crap. It's stuck in my throat." He gave a disgusted grimace, spitting off to the side.
Eddie, with a quiet resolve, was the first to step toward the trailer. He pushed the door open and stepped inside, Dove following close behind, her eyes scanning the familiar, yet corrupted, interior of Eddie's trailer.
A faint red glow from the ceiling cast an ominous hue over everything, like an unnatural sunset. Steve was right behind her, scanning the room with his flashlight, while Robin and Nancy slipped in quietly, their eyes immediately drawn to the unnatural, pulsating light seeping down from the ceiling.
"Goddamn." Steve murmured, his voice barely a whisper as the flashlight beam landed on the gate. It was a jagged tear in reality itself, suspended above them, swirling with the same dark red energy that seemed to infect every corner of the Upside Down. It cast long shadows over the trailer, illuminating dust motes that floated lazily through the thick, musty air.
Dove took a deep breath, glancing over at Steve as he clicked off his flashlight. "That's our ticket out of here." she murmured, her voice tight with a mixture of relief and dread.
"This is where Chrissy died," Eddie said, the words cracking in his throat. "Like, right where she died."
Dove's heart clenched painfully. She remembered Chrissy's easy laughter, the warmth in her eyes, but now, she was gone, taken by the same monster that threatened them all.
Seeing the sorrow etched on Eddie's face, Dove felt a surge of grief and guilt twist within her. She reached out, her hand resting on his shoulder, and they stood in silence, united in the heartache and resolve to make it out, not just for themselves, but for Chrissy too.
Robin's voice sliced through the silence, a mix of alarm and curiosity. "I think there's something in there."
Dove's eyes snapped upward, following Robin's gaze to the ceiling. Her breath caught as she watched the translucent membrane overhead begin to warp and stretch, as if something on the other side was pushing against it, fighting to break through.
"What the hell is that?" Eddie muttered, his voice barely a whisper, though filled with dread.
They didn't have to wait long for an answer. The membrane split open with a sickening rip, sending chunks of dark, viscous slime crashing to the ground in thick splatters. The group yelped, each of them instinctively stumbling back as the foul, sludgy material landed at their feet.
Dove's pulse quickened, her mind racing. She clenched her jaw, steeling herself as the others exchanged anxious glances. Dove took a cautious step forward, heart pounding as she peered up through the opening. Her breath caught when she saw the familiar faces staring back at her from the other side—her brother, flanked by Lucas, Erica, and Max. They determinedly peered into the murky gap between worlds.
Dustin held a broom aloft, the wooden handle evidently what had poked through and triggered the tear. When his eyes met Dove's, a grin spread across his face and he let out a joyous laugh, the sound echoing through the eerie silence. "Hi there!" he called, waving with the broom in a comically triumphant gesture.
Dove blinked, a slow smile breaking across her face, her earlier tension melting away as she waved back. The rest of the group gathered around her, eyes bright with relief as they took in the sight of their friends. A palpable wave of relief washed over them all, carrying with it the gravity of what they'd just endured—and the hope that, maybe, they could finally escape this nightmare.
"Holy shit, this is trippy," Robin muttered, her wide eyes fixed on the gate, disbelief etched across her face.
"Bada bada boom!" Dustin shouted, shaking his fist triumphantly, his grin widening with pure, unfiltered excitement.
"Yes, Dustin, you're a genius," Dove replied, her voice a mix of sarcasm and relief. "Now, will you help us get the hell out of here?"
Dustin's smile softened, and he nodded with understanding, his expression shifting from excitement to resolve. "Wait here a second!" he called, and Dove watched as he turned, signaling to Lucas, Erica, and Max, who sprang into action alongside him.
The group disappeared from view for a moment, leaving Dove and the others waiting in tense silence. From the other side, muffled shuffling reached her ears, punctuated by determined grunts and the occasional thud as they worked. A moment later, Dustin and the others reappeared, dragging Eddie's old mattress across the floor. It was worn thin, the sheet covering it stained with patches Dove didn't want to think too much about. They positioned it directly beneath the portal and Dustin gave a quick thumbs-up to his sister, beaming despite the grime and sweat streaking his face.
"Those stains are, uh.." Eddie started, before sighing. "I don't know what those stains are."
Robin groaned as Dustin set to work, knotting together a haphazard collection of faded, mismatched sheets with surprising skill. His hands moved with a deft precision, each knot tight and secure, transforming the sheets into a makeshift rope. As he tied the final knot, Dustin looked up, his face flushed with satisfaction. He grinned at Dove through the portal, an uncertain glint in his eyes.
"Alright," he called out, "I'm not entirely sure how these physics are going to work, but.. here goes nothing." He tossed the rope upward, and as the knotted sheets fell through the portal, they were caught between the conflicting gravities of the two worlds.
The sheet rope dangled strangely, floating in the air like some optical illusion. Dove blinked, her mind struggling to comprehend the sight. It was as if gravity itself didn't know which side to pull the rope toward, leaving it hanging in an eerie equilibrium between them.
Dustin, on the other side, gave the rope an experimental tug. "See if it holds!" he yelled through the gate, his voice warped slightly by the interdimensional divide.
Dove and the others exchanged wary glances before Eddie stepped forward, reaching for the rope. He gave it a hard tug, watching with wide eyes as the sheets remained taut, anchored impossibly in the thin veil separating their dimensions. The whole setup defied every natural law, a surreal reminder of the strange forces they were dealing with.
"This is the craziest shit I've ever seen in my life," Erica muttered, shaking her head as she stared at the rope hanging in midair. "And I've seen some crazy shit."
Eddie stepped forward, rolling his shoulders and trying to mask the glint of desperation in his eyes. Dove could see it clearly, though—the thinly veiled anxiety, the eagerness to get out of the nightmare realm that had been wearing them down. Taking a deep breath, he grabbed the suspended rope, muttering something under his breath before launching himself upward with a grunt. The sheets wobbled slightly under his weight, but they held firm.
Hand over hand, Eddie struggled to pull himself up, his face twisting with concentration as he climbed toward the gate. When he finally broke through to the other side, his hair seemed to suspend itself, floating strangely. Then, with a sudden jerk, he passed through, gravity snapping him back down as he tumbled backward onto the mattress. He bounced slightly, sitting up with a grin.
"Shit.. that was kinda fun," he said breathlessly.
Steve stepped forward next, sizing up the rope before gripping it tightly and climbing, his movements quicker but no less tense. With a determined push, he crossed the threshold, his form flickering between the two dimensions for a moment before he, too, fell back with a thud on the mattress.
"Alright, you're up," he called to Dove, waving her over with an encouraging nod.
Dove gripped the rope, her knuckles whitening as she steadied herself, staring up at the gaping portal that hovered above. Taking a deep breath, she pulled herself up, the rope swaying slightly under her weight. The climb felt heavier with each movement, as if an invisible force was tugging her down, almost daring her to fall back into the Upside Down.
As she got closer to the portal, the air seemed to thin, and her body grew weightless. The gravity shift sent a tingle through her skin, every nerve on high alert. The moment her head passed through the gate, the world tilted, and everything around her began to distort.
Her vision swirled as she moved between dimensions, the edges of her sight blurring, the colors fading from the harsh reds and blacks of the Upside Down to the softer, muted tones of her world.
And then, with a sudden jolt, gravity took hold, yanking her back into reality. She let out a gasp as she fell backward, the mattress beneath her absorbing the impact with a soft, musty thud. The air rushed back into her lungs, and she sat up, catching her breath, feeling both exhilarated and drained. Her mind was still reeling from the passage, the strange sensation of being caught between two worlds lingering like an aftershock.
Looking around, she found herself face-to-face with Steve and Eddie, who shared her breathless relief. They helped her to her feet and gazed back up at the portal, watching as Nancy and Robin prepared for their own surreal ascent.
Nancy stood frozen, staring straight ahead, her eyes wide but strangely empty. The relief that had filled Robin's face moments ago drained away, replaced by an expression of pure horror. Dove felt her stomach lurch, icy dread settling over her as Robin began to panic, gripping Nancy's shoulders and shaking her with frantic desperation.
"Nancy! Nancy, snap out of it!" Robin shouted, her voice breaking. "Wake up, please!" But Nancy's gaze remained fixed, her body stiff as a board, as if she were locked in some invisible vice.
Dove's heart hammered in her chest as she and the others looked on, paralyzed by the sheer horror of the scene. Max finally said what they were all thinking, her voice barely audible. "Vecna."
The name sent a shockwave through them, the weight of it pressing down like a lead blanket. Steve lunged for the rope, his eyes fierce with determination, but Dove's hand shot out, grabbing his arm and pulling him back.
"Steve, no!" she said firmly, locking eyes with him. "There's nothing you can do for her in there. You're already hurt."
He hesitated, his jaw clenched, but Dove held his gaze, her own fear barely contained. She knew she had to keep them grounded. She looked around at the others, her mind racing as she tried to focus.
"Music!" she called out, snapping them into action. "We need to find music!"
The urgency in Dove's voice jolted the group to life, snapping them out of their stunned silence. They all scrambled into Eddie's room, rifling through drawers and piles of belongings with trembling hands, the frantic energy making the air feel electric. Dove sifted through a stack of tapes, her fingers flying past album covers—Metallica, Judas Priest, Ozzy Osbourne.
"We need real music!" she shouted, frustration boiling over.
Eddie shot her a glare, his hands still rooting through piles of clutter. "Thisisreal music!"
Max's voice cut through the tension. "I have Kate Bush in my Walkman!"
Dove looked at her, "That's gonna have to work!" she said, holding out her hand. Max tossed her the Walkman, and Dove caught it, immediately turning and sprinting back into the living room.
Robin was still by Nancy's side, her face a mask of fear as she tried desperately to shake her out of the trance, but Nancy's gaze remained vacant and unfocused.
"Robin!" Dove called, her voice sharp with urgency. Robin jerked around, her eyes wide and frantic, before they landed on Dove. "Robin, focus!" She said firmly, tossing the Walkman up through the gate. Robin's hands fumbled but closed around it. She quickly unwound the headphones and reached for Nancy, but before she could slip them on, Nancy's body convulsed, a sharp gasp ripping from her lips.
Robin tossed the Walkman aside, helping Nancy down as her legs buckled beneath her. Nancy's breathing was ragged, her eyes wide with terror as she clutched Robin's arm, grounding herself in the here and now. Dove let out a shaky breath, relief washing over her as she looked to the others, each of them breathing a little easier.
Robin held Nancy close, her voice soft and reassuring as she whispered. "It's okay. I'm right here."
Gradually, Nancy's breathing steadied, and the glassy terror in her eyes began to recede. Robin gave her a steadying nod, and together, they began their slow, cautious climb up the rope. As soon as they reached the other side, Steve stepped forward, pulling Nancy into a hug, holding her tightly as if afraid she might slip away again. Dove moved in next, wrapping her arms around Nancy, offering her own warmth and strength.
When Dove pulled back, she noticed something lingering in Nancy's gaze—a flicker of fear, sharper than before. Nancy's eyes met Dove's, and her voice trembled as she spoke, her words barely a whisper.
"Vecna has a message," she said, her voice carrying a weight that made everyone around her fall silent.
They led Nancy over to Max's trailer, none of them wanting to be anywhere near the Upside Down. As they gathered in the living room, Nancy's face was pale, her eyes fixed on some distant, horrific vision. She explained everything Vecna had shown her. How he was Henry Creel. How he killed his family. How he had been experimented on in the lab, just like El. As Nancy spoke, her voice was a whisper, laden with a fear so raw it made everyone else go still. "He showed me things.. things that haven't happened yet. The most awful things."
The group watched in silence as Nancy's expression tightened, her eyes glistening with unspoken terror. "I saw a dark cloud spreading over Hawkins," she continued, her voice wavering. "Downtown was on fire. There were.. dead soldiers. And there was this creature.. with a gaping mouth." Her voice trembled, and her gaze drifted away, haunted. "And it wasn't alone. There were so many monsters.. an entire army. They were flooding into Hawkins. Into our neighborhoods. Into our homes."
Nancy's words painted an image so vivid that Dove felt a chill run down her spine. She exchanged a worried glance with Steve, the weight of Nancy's vision settling over them like a shroud.
Nancy's voice cracked as she went on. "And then.. he showed me my mom.. And Holly. Mike." She hesitated, the words sticking in her throat. "And they.. they were all.."
A tear slipped down her cheek as she trailed off, the horrible image lingering in her silence. Robin, sitting beside her, placed a hand gently on her shoulder, her own face stricken with sympathy and concern. "Hey, you're here now," she murmured softly, squeezing Nancy's shoulder. "He was just trying to scare you. It's not real."
"Not yet." Nancy looked around at them, her eyes full of dread but also of resolve, her vision burned into everyone's mind as a warning. "But there.. There was something else. He showed me gates. Four gates. Spreading across Hawkins. And these gates, they looked like the one in Eddie's trailer but.. they didn't stop growing. And this wasn't the Upside Down Hawkins. This was our Hawkins. Our home." She looked up at Dove, her mouth opening as if she wanted to say more but stopped herself, uncertain.
"Four chimes." Max said from the corner, her arms crossed tightly over her chest. "Vecna's clock. It always chimes four times. Four exactly."
Dove nodded, her voice low. "I've heard them too," she whispered.
Max's face tightened as she spoke, her voice trembling. "He's been telling us his plan this whole time."
"Four kills." Lucas said. "Four gates. End of the world." He swallowed hard, as if saying the words made them more real.
"If that's true," Dustin said, shaking his head, his face pale, "then he's only one kill away."
The room fell silent until Steve, his brows furrowed in thought, broke it. "But.. what about Dove?" He looked around at them, his eyes filled with a new kind of worry. "If Vecna only needs four kills, why does he keep coming back for her? What's the point of having a.. a vessel?"
"He's gonna try and kill one of you." Dove said quietly, staring down at her hands and fidgeting with her fingers. She spoke softly, as if each word required strength to say. "He told me.. if I keep saying no, he'll hurt my friends. Obviously, he thinks if he kills one of you, I'll give in." She looked up, meeting their anxious stares. "I have to do it. I have to agree to his terms."
"No," Dustin said firmly, his face hardening. "Absolutely not."
Dove's voice rose, frustration leaking into her tone. "It's the only way to keep you all safe!"
"Earth to Dove!" Dustin shouted back. "No one is going to be safe if the world ends!"
Dove took a sharp breath, standing up abruptly. "Okay, then what's your brilliant plan, Dustin?! Because right now, this feels like our only option!"
"We call El!" Dustin shot back, his voice rising to match hers. "She can stop him!"
Dove threw her hands up in exasperation. "We've been trying to call El for days!"
"Then we try again," Max said, though her voice lacked conviction. She walked over and lifted the phone, dialing with a mix of hope and desperation, while Dove turned sharply and headed for the door.
"Where are you going?" Steve's voice followed her, his concern unmistakable.
"I need some air," Dove said over her shoulder. She paused briefly, adding with a bitter edge, "Don't worry—I won't sacrifice myself without your permission." And before anyone could respond, she slipped out, letting the door click shut behind her, the weight of the moment pressing down like a storm about to break.
The late afternoon sunlight cast long shadows over the trailer park and Dove's eyes landed on the picnic table nearby. She walked over slowly, sinking down onto the rough wood, her head in her hands. The events of the past few days replayed in her mind with merciless clarity, each memory more agonizing than the last.
The horror of watching Max fight for her life in the cemetery still haunted Dove. Then there was Steve, his body covered in bloody scratches from the bats that had attacked them in the Upside Down. She could still see him struggling, that look of determined fear etched into his face as he fought them off. And Nancy.. Nancy's vision, the way she'd sat there frozen, trapped in Vecna's grasp, her eyes staring into a darkness only she could see.
All of it had been Dove's fault. Each attack, each close call, a consequence of her own stubbornness. Vecna made it clear that he would hurt the people she cared about, and yet she'd told him no. Time and again, she'd resisted, holding onto the hope that she could fight him on her terms. But every refusal had led to someone getting hurt.
A hollow ache settled deep in her chest, guilt twisting through her like a knife. She'd wanted to believe they could win together, that they could fight him without sacrificing anyone. But now, all she could see were the consequences of her decisions. If she'd just said yes, maybe Max would be safe. Maybe Steve wouldn't have been hurt. Maybe Nancy wouldn't be living in fear of what she'd seen.
The weight of it all pressed down on her, making her feel small, powerless. She had tried to be strong, to keep fighting, but what was the point if everyone she loved paid the price? The sun cast a faint, warm glow over the yard, but it felt dim to her, as if even the light couldn't reach her here.
The sound of footsteps crunching against the gravel pulled Dove from her guilt-ridden trance. She looked up to see Steve approaching, his eyes soft with concern. He slipped onto the bench across from her, and they locked eyes, both studying each other in the heavy silence.
Dove's heart twisted as her gaze drifted down to the bruises on his neck, dark and vivid against his skin. A stark reminder of how close he'd come to losing his life—because of her. Another pang of guilt surged through her, the weight of everything she'd been carrying pressing down even harder now that he was right there in front of her, a living testament to the consequences of her choices.
Steve reached across the table and took her hands in his, his grip warm and steady. "Dove," he said softly, his tone gentle but certain. "We have a plan. Okay? We're going to get through this."
His words settled over her like a balm, but the doubt still lingered in her chest. She looked down at his hands, at the way they held hers with a quiet strength, as if he was trying to share his resolve with her. She could feel his determination, his refusal to let fear consume them, and for a brief moment, the weight of her guilt lifted just slightly.
But her voice was barely above a whisper as she spoke. "Steve.. if I had just done what he wanted.. you almost died because of me."
Steve shook his head, his hands tightening around hers. "No. None of this is your fault," he said firmly. "Vecna did this, not you. And we're going to stop him, all of us—together."
She searched his face, seeing the bruises and the scratches but also the unwavering determination in his eyes. In that moment, she realized that Steve wasn't here to convince her of her own strength; he was here to remind her that she wasn't alone.