Robin, Nancy, Dove, and Steve moved cautiously through the dark, twisted woods of the Upside Down, each footstep careful, each sense on high alert. The strange echoes and unsettling creaks around them kept their flashlights darting in every direction, illuminating branches and shadows that seemed to move on their own.
Robin's flashight landed on a nearby tree and she whispered, "Uh.. I don't mean to freak anyone out, but I swear we've seen this tree before."
Nancy, walking just behind her said, "That's impossible."
"That would suck right?" Robin's asked as she let out a tense laugh. "If Vecna destroyed the world because.. 'cause we got lost in the woods?"
"We're not lost, Robin," Nancy said, her voice firm but quiet, trying to keep them grounded.
Robin laughed again, a bit louder this time, and without warning, bolted forward.
"Robin, watch out for the vines!" Dove called after her, her heart racing as she watched Robin haphazardly maneuver through the forest.
"Thank you!" Robin called back, her voice echoing through the trees as she weaved between the vines, still running forward.
"Don't worry about her," Steve said, glancing at Robin's retreating figure. "She's just stressed. You know, scared."
Dove looked at him, her brow furrowing. "We're all scared, Steve. It's just.."
"..she's a mega klutz," Steve finished, giving her a small smirk.
Nancy and Dove both chuckled at that, easing the tension a little. "She did tell me that it took her longer to walk than most babies," Nancy added with a smile.
Steve shook his head, his own smile widening. "I really shouldn't laugh. When I was a baby, I actually crawled backwards."
Dove and Nancy both stared at him, stifling laughter. "Crawled backwards?" Nancy asked, raising an eyebrow.
"You know, I'd push with my hands like this." Steve said, demonstrating by pushing his hands back as if he were crawling in reverse, adding a soft "Beep. Beep. Always in reverse, you know?" He glanced at Dove and Nancy as the two of them exchanged amused glances, barely containing their laughter.
"Come on, it makes sense!" Steve continued, gesturing to emphasize his point. "You push to move, right?"
Dove shook her head. "No, Steve, it doesn't make sense."
Steve shrugged, grinning. "Well, it did to my tiny little Harrington brain."
Up ahead, Robin's voice echoed through the fog. "Hey, Nancy! Come check this out!"
Nancy looked between Steve and Dove, a mix of amusement and exasperation on her face. "I better go make sure she's okay." With a quick nod, she jogged forward, disappearing into the dense mist.
Dove glanced back at Steve, her curiosity piqued. "So, how did your parents get you to stop?" Steve tilted his head, momentarily confused. "Crawling backwards, I mean."
"Oh, right." He nodded, a sheepish grin appearing. "Well, uh, I reversed my baby butt down a flight of stairs and thumped my head really good."
Dove laughed, shaking her head. "That actually explainssomuch."
"Yeah." Steve chuckled too, the sound warm and unguarded. "I think it kinda does." He paused, his gaze softening as he looked at her with a seriousness that caught Dove off guard. "I think, like, right out of the gate, I'm super confident, you know? But I'm also, like.. an idiot. Which is just.." He shook his head, smiling wryly. "I mean, it's a brutal combination. But, I mean, the good news is, I get a big enough thump on my head, I can change, you know? I can learn. I can.. crawl forward."
Dove felt her heart skip a beat as she took in his words. His tone was gentle, almost vulnerable, as though he wanted her to understand something he couldn't quite put into words. She could feel the sincerity radiating from him, feel how deeply he meant every word.
"Listen," Steve continued, his voice quiet but steady. "I guess what I'm trying to say in a really stupid, roundabout way is, um.. thank you."
Dove stopped, the full weight of his words settling over her. "Thank me?" Steve nodded and she blinked, taken aback. "For what?"
"For giving my head the biggest thump of its life last year. I needed it."
Dove swallowed, feeling a mixture of regret and something else—something hopeful. She'd never thought of herself as the reason Steve had grown, but hearing it now, she felt the warmth of it sink in, a reminder that they'd both come a long way since then. She thought back to the past year, all the ways Steve had shown up for her, how he'd let himself grow and learn despite the risks and the pain. She'd never expected him to credit her for any of that.
Steve started walking again, and Dove hesitated a moment, processing his words before following. His last words hung in the air between them, filled with quiet sincerity before he added, "it's changed my life. And now I'm crawling forward. Slowly."
As they walked through the dark, twisting woods of the Upside Down, Steve glanced over at Dove. "Do you remember that dream I told you about?" he asked quietly. "The one about the RV, traveling the country with my six little nuggets?"
Dove couldn't help but smile, the memory of their conversation flooding back to her as she nodded.
Steve continued, his voice low but steady. "It's all true, you know. Every last word."
Dove studied his face, feeling her heart race just a little faster. "And.. the big-shot lawyer wife?" She asked, her voice soft. "That's me?"
Steve nodded, his eyes locked on hers. "That's the most important part, Dove. It always has been." His words lingered in the air, filled with a sincerity that cut right through the tension of the dark woods. "I'd give up the rest of it, every bit of that dream, if it meant you were there."
Dove's breath caught, his words sinking deep. She could feel the truth in them, in the way he looked at her, his gaze steady and unflinching. She felt herself imagining that future—a life with Steve, something solid and real, despite everything around them that threatened to tear it all apart.
Dove stopped in her tracks, her feet rooted to the spot as Steve turned to face her, a flicker of uncertainty crossing his face. He opened his mouth, his voice hesitant. "Sorry, Dove. I.. I shouldn't have brought it up. This isn't-."
Dove held up her hand, cutting him off gently. They stood there in silence, the air thick with everything left unsaid. Her mind reeled, processing the weight of his words, and in that moment, she felt her heart reach a quiet, certain truth—she was in love with Steve Harrington. The realization was both thrilling and terrifying, an anchor amidst the chaos that had become their lives. She took a breath, her eyes lifting to meet his, and just as she was about to speak—
Robin came sprinting back through the trees, her voice cutting through the silence. "You guys! Awesome news!" She stopped in front of them, panting to catch her breath. "Looks like we weren't going the wrong way after all!"
Dove blinked, the words she'd been about to say caught in her throat. She glanced at Steve, trying to catch his eye, but he was already looking away, his smile not quite reaching his eyes. She could feel the misunderstanding settling between them, the missed chance to tell him how she truly felt slipping through her fingers.
With a deep breath, she turned to follow Robin, the weight of the unspoken words heavy in her chest. There was so much she needed to say to him, but now wasn't the time. She could only hope there would be another chance—after everything was over, after they made it through. Because she knew now, with a clarity that took her by surprise, that she didn't want to imagine a future without him in it.
As they reached the edge of a clearing, the ominous silhouette of Vecna's lair loomed in the distance, its dark, decaying structure almost pulsing with menace. Swarms of demobats circled above, casting eerie shadows that moved like restless phantoms across the sky. Dove's gaze drifted across the street, landing on the playground nearby. The rocket-shaped jungle gym glowed faintly, particles swirling around it like an otherworldly beacon.
"Erica," Steve murmured, his eyes fixed on the glow, and without another word, the group broke into a sprint toward the playground.
Dove reached the jungle gym first, her heart pounding as she climbed up to the platform. She reached out, her fingers brushing against the floating particles, their soft, almost hypnotic glow lighting her hand as she signaled to Erica that they'd arrived. She held her breath for a moment, the air thick with anticipation, until Erica's voice crackled through, faint but clear enough.
"..copied..Max..phase two.."
"So far, so smooth," Robin muttered as Dove jumped down from the platform, landing on her feet. She wobbled a bit, but Steve stepped forward, steadying her with a firm hand.
Nancy's gaze remained fixed on the dark house ahead, her expression tense. "We're not even at the hard part yet," she murmured, her voice low but resolute.
Dove looked back at the looming house, feeling the weight of the task ahead settle over her. "Take the bait, you son of a bitch." She muttered.
They stayed huddled in tense silence beneath the jungle gym, eyes fixed on the Creel House looming in the distance. The circling demobats created a low, unsettling hum that seemed to fill the air.
Suddenly, Erica's voice drifted faintly through the thick, surreal atmosphere, distorted and soft as though muffled by layers of fog. "..she's in..phase three.."
Robin lifted the walkie to her mouth, pressing the button as she spoke in a tense whisper. "She's in. Move to phase three."
A beat later, Dustin's voice crackled back through the speaker. "Copy that. Initiating phase three."
The group held their breath, waiting as the seconds stretched into what felt like an eternity. Then, suddenly, the demobats let out a deafening screech, their wings beating furiously as they swarmed away from the Creel House, heading toward the trailer park.
Nancy exhaled, her shoulders relaxing just a fraction. "Okay, it's working. Let's go."
They moved swiftly across the street, eyes trained on the ominous house ahead. As they approached the front steps, a streak of red lightning ripped across the sky, illuminating the twisted facade of the house and casting eerie shadows over them.
Steve reached the door first, his expression grim. He carefully pushed it open and shone his flashlight inside, his jaw tightening. "Oh shit.." he muttered, his voice low.
The beam illuminated the floor, which was nearly invisible beneath a writhing, pulsing mass of vines that covered nearly every inch. They seemed alive, slowly snaking and curling across the boards, and the whole house felt as though it were breathing.
Dove exchanged a quick, silent glance with Steve, Robin, and Nancy, each of them steeling themselves for what lay ahead.
Steve stepped inside first, carefully jumping from clear patch to clear patch, his flashlight casting a shaky beam across the room. He moved cautiously, making sure to avoid touching any of the vines that crept across the floor. Dove followed close behind, stepping in the same spots he had, her heart pounding with each careful jump.
She glanced back to see Robin clutching Nancy's hand, her face pale but determined. Nancy offered her a reassuring smile. "You've got this."
Robin nodded, taking a deep breath before leaping forward, following in their footsteps. Nancy was the last to enter, moving with careful precision, her eyes never leaving the path ahead. Together, they continued up the staircase, jumping to avoid the vines that sprawled across the steps. Each jump was a careful dance as they tried to avoid the living network beneath them.
At the top landing, they paused, each member of the group pulling out their chosen weapon—Nancy with the sawed-off shotgun, Dove with her machete, Steve gripping his axe, and Robin holding two Molotov cocktails.
Just as they were about to move toward the attic door, the house trembled beneath them. The walls shook violently, dust and debris rattling down, and they all stumbled, crouching instinctively. Robin grabbed onto Nancy for support, her eyes squeezed shut as she held on, while Steve reached for Dove, steadying her with a firm grip.
As the rumbling subsided, they all glanced up, a collective sigh of relief almost escaping—until Dove felt a familiar warmth dripping from her nose. Her heart stopped. Robin had barely glanced up, fear flickering in her eyes, before a vine wrapped around her ankle and yanked her down, slamming her hard against the wall. She let out a scream, raw and panicked, as more vines shot out, wrapping around her limbs and pinning her in place.
"Robin!" Nancy shouted, rushing forward with her shotgun, swinging the butt down hard onto the vines to break their grip. Dove and Steve joined her, raising their weapons and hacking desperately at the vines that snaked around Robin's arms and legs.
Steve swung his axe with focused fury, but just as he took another heavy swing, a vine darted out, coiling around the axe and wrenching it in the opposite direction. He was pulled with it, slamming against the wall as the vines tightened around his chest and throat, lifting him until his feet left the ground. His face flushed as he struggled to breathe, his hands clawing at the tightening vine around his neck.
"Steve!" Dove cried, her heart pounding as she tried to reach him. But before she could take a step, a thick vine whipped around her legs, forcing her to her knees and locking her in place. She struggled, but they only tightened, creeping up to her arms and binding them at her sides, holding her completely immobile.
Across the room, Nancy continued to fight, using the shotgun's stock to smash the vines holding Robin, but they retaliated with brutal swiftness, wrapping around Nancy's ankle and dragging her down next to Dove. The shotgun slipped from Nancy's hands as she struggled, more vines securing her wrists and pulling her up against the wall.
Dove's heart raced, her entire body frozen in the grip of the vines. She could only watch as her friends were ensnared, their desperate struggles growing weaker. Robin's terrified screams filled the air, Steve's strangled gasps faded as the vine around his neck tightened, and Nancy's frantic attempts to free herself grew more futile with each passing second.
Dove's heart hammered in her chest as she fought against the vines pinning her, every ounce of her strength useless against the unyielding grip. Nancy and Robin struggled, their bodies wrapped tight against the wall. Vines slithered upward, coiling around their necks, constricting with a deadly force. Both women thrashed, eyes wide with panic as they struggled to breath.
Dove's gaze fell on Steve, who was pinned across the room, his back pressed hard against the wall. Their eyes met, and she could see the desperation there, the silent plea for help.
Tears filled Dove's eyes as she realized what was happening, the grim reality pressing down on her with crushing weight—Steve didn't have much time left. His struggles were slowing, his breaths turning to gasps, his face paling as the vine's hold grew tighter. She could feel her heart shatter as she faced the terrifying truth: she was going to watch him die, unable to do anything to save him.
A helpless sob escaped her, her own body bound tight, the vines' cold grip unyielding as they forced her to witness every second of his suffering.
Just as suddenly as the vines had seized them, they loosened their deadly hold and sent Steve, Robin, and Nancy crashing to the floor. The vines retreated into the walls, disappearing as if they'd never been there. All three of them gasped for breath, clutching at their throats, disoriented and shaken.
Dove scrambled to her feet, rushing over to Steve. She knelt beside him, gently helping him sit up, relief flooding over her as she saw the rise and fall of his chest. Tears she hadn't even realized were there slipped down her cheeks as she steadied him.
Robin's voice was hoarse but laced with her usual humor. "I don't believe in a higher power or divine intervention or anything, but... that was a miracle."
Nancy pushed herself up, her breaths still shaky. She spotted her shotgun on the floor and picked it up, her expression hardening as she turned toward the looming attic door. "Then we better not waste it." She cocked the shotgun with a determined click.
The four of them stood, a new resolve settling over the group. Steve looked around, his voice soft but steady. "Phase four."
Robin held up the Molotov cocktails, a small smirk tugging at her lips. "Flambé."
With a final look of resolve shared between them, they moved forward, inching toward the attic door.
As they reached the top of the stairs, they stopped, their breaths catching at the sight before them. Vecna hung suspended in the center of the attic, his body bound and held aloft by dozens of twisted vines snaking from the ceiling and walls. He was shrouded in shadows, his skin pale and withered, his head tilted downward as though he were in some kind of trance. The eerie blue glow that filled the room cast an unsettling light across his figure, making him look like a monstrous puppet, held aloft by strings of darkness.
Robin was the first to move, shrugging her bag off and unzipping it quickly. She pulled out a lighter while Steve and Dove each grabbed a Molotov cocktail, their faces set with fierce determination. Robin flicked the lighter open and brought the flame to each of their wicks, lighting them one by one, her hands steady despite the fear etched into her face.
Nancy, meanwhile, kept her shotgun trained on Vecna, her finger hovering over the trigger, her gaze unblinking. Steve and Dove exchanged one last glance, a silent acknowledgment of everything that had led them here, every terrifying moment and hard-won victory. With a collective breath, they pulled back their arms and threw.
The bottles arced through the air, spinning in slow motion as they neared their target. The flames reflected in their eyes, a flicker of hope, a final, desperate stand against the darkness. The Molotovs hit their mark, shattering upon impact, and in an instant, Vecna was engulfed in flames.
He let out an inhuman scream, the sound piercing through the room and sending a chill down their spines. The vines that held him suspended began to release one by one, retracting into the ceiling and walls, their sinister grip loosening. With a final snap, the last vine detached, and Vecna crashed to the ground, his body still ablaze.
The sickening sound of his sizzling flesh filled the air. Vecna raised his head, his smoldering eyes locking onto them with a fury that seemed to burn even hotter than the flames consuming him. Slowly, painfully, he began to rise, staggering to his feet, smoke wafting off his charred skin.
Without hesitation, Robin lit another Molotov, her hands trembling but her resolve unshaken. She threw it with all her strength, the bottle smashing against Vecna and sending another wave of flames over him. He stumbled back, the fire flaring around him, but he eventually steadied himself, the flames licking up his body yet unable to bring him down.
That's when Nancy stepped forward, her face a mask of determination as she raised the shotgun. She took aim and fired, the first shot hitting him square in the right shoulder. Vecna's body jerked, stumbling back. She fired again, the second shot catching him in the stomach, and then a third in the left shoulder. Each blast forced him back a step, a pained growl escaping him as his body was battered by the relentless impact.
Nancy's fourth shot struck him dead in the chest, the force of it spinning him around, still engulfed in flames, his movements wild and desperate. But he recovered, turning back to them, his face twisted in a rage more terrifying than ever before. He took a step forward, bellowing in fury, his voice reverberating through the burning attic.
Nancy fired one last shot, the blast hitting him in the center of his chest. This time, the impact sent Vecna flying backward, his body barreling through the decaying wall of the attic. The old wood splintered, debris raining down as he broke through, tumbling out and hitting the sloped roof before crashing onto the front walkway below with a heavy, final thud.
They stood there, breathless, weapons still drawn, listening to the silence that followed. The flames from the Molotovs crackled around them, casting an eerie glow on their stunned faces as they looked at each other.
Nancy slowly lowered her shotgun, her gaze fixed on the shattered wall where Vecna had disappeared. Without a word, the group moved in unison, rushing down the stairs and out onto the front porch, their hearts pounding with a mix of fear and hope. But as they reached the walkway, their relief turned to horror—Vecna's body was gone. All that remained was a dark, viscous pool of blood staining the ground where he had fallen.
A sickening dread settled over them, thick and suffocating. Suddenly, the haunting chime of the grandfather clock echoed through the air, the sound sending a chill down their spines. The group rushed inside, stopping in front of the old grandfather clock. Four ominous chimes filled the silence, each one heavier than the last.
"Four chimes," Robin whispered as the final ring faded into the stillness.
Dove's face went pale, her voice barely above a whisper as she choked out, "Oh God.. Max."
Without warning, the house shook violently, a frenzied ticking buzzing through the air, like the twisted heartbeat of the Upside Down itself. Dove's hands shot out, gripping the stair handrail as she tried to steady herself, but the ground shifted beneath her, and she lost her balance, falling backward onto the steps.
Steve was there in an instant, his arms wrapping around her protectively, holding her tightly as the tremor grew in intensity. They clung to each other, both struggling to keep steady amidst the relentless shaking, their breaths mingling as they braced themselves against the chaos, standing up carefully.
With a deafening crack, the floor split beneath them, glowing with an ominous red light. The walls groaned, splintering as they were forced apart, and the house was ripped in two by the unnatural force surging from the rift.
Dove felt the floor shift beneath her feet as she and Steve stumbled backward, trying to stay on solid ground. Her hand reached for Nancy, who was on the other side with Robin, but the crack widened, severing them completely. Dove's heart raced as she met Nancy's eyes, the fear mirrored in her friend's gaze.
Steve tightened his grip on Dove and she looked up at him, her heart pounding. Below them, the ground continued to fracture as the rift expanded, spilling out from the Creel House and ripping across the surrounding yard, reaching toward the trees in a fiery, destructive path.
A final, explosive burst of energy surged from the rift, the force so powerful that it sent all of them flying backward, crashing against walls and furniture as the entire house shook violently. And then, just as suddenly as it had started, everything went still. Dust floated through the air, settling in the silence that followed the chaos.
Steve groaned, pushing himself up and immediately reaching for Dove. He helped her to her feet, his hand steadying her as they both caught their breath. Across the rift, they could see Nancy and Robin picking themselves up.
"You two okay?" Steve called out, his voice echoing in the broken remains of the room.
"Yeah, we're good!" Robin shouted back, brushing dust from her clothes. "You guys?"
"We're fine," Dove replied, exchanging a relieved look with Steve.
Steve turned to the gaping, fiery crack splitting the house in two, his brow furrowing as he took in the strange, pulsing energy radiating from it. "What the hell is that?" he muttered.
"It looks like a giant gate," Nancy answered, glancing between Steve and the rift.
Dove's gaze shifted across the room, landing on her machete, which had fallen near the edge of the rift. She moved toward it, her mind made up.
"Dove, what are you doing?" Robin asked, her voice laced with caution.
Dove picked up her machete, gripping it tightly. "There's only one way to find out." With a deep breath, she swung the blade down, slicing through the strange, membranous surface of the rift.
As the machete cut through, the edges of the rift seemed to peel back, revealing the sky of their world on the other side—a faint, familiar glow breaking through the darkness of the Upside Down. Dove's eyes widened as she took it in, a mix of awe and fear flooding her expression.
"It is a gate," she confirmed, looking back at Robin and Nancy. "You two should go back through here. Steve and I will head back to the trailer park to get Eddie and Dustin."
Nancy, her shotgun still in hand, gave a curt nod of agreement. "Alright. We'll make sure Max is okay, and then we'll meet back up at my place as soon as possible."
Robin looked at Dove and Steve one last time, concern etched on her face. "Be careful."
"We will," Steve promised, giving her a small, reassuring smile.
With a final glance of resolve, Nancy and Robin climbed through the rift, disappearing into the familiar glow of their world. Dove and Steve stood there for a moment, exchanging a look filled with unspoken determination. They set off along the rift, the red, pulsing light illuminated their way, guiding them toward the trailer park—toward Eddie and Dustin.