Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

     I step out of my mom’s station wagon, slinging my messenger bag onto my shoulder, and look at my new High School. I sigh softly.

     “Astrid,” she says, “remember, your father and I will be home late tonight. We’re getting things ready at the church,”

     I nod a little. “I know, I know,” I say, “grab Zach and Martha from school, Hannah from daycare, and walk everyone home. I’ll make dinner as well,”

     “Thank you, dear,” she says, flatly, and she pulls away.

     I look over my shoulder, watching her drive away. I sigh, put my headphones on, and press play on my cassette player on my belt.

     “ From my heart and from my hands, why don’t people understand, my intentions, ”

     I bob my head a little as I walk toward the school.

     Girls standing in a small flock glance at me, and their expressions turn confused and somewhat sour.

     I ignore them, though, just continuing toward and into Hawkins High, to the office to get my schedule and locker number.

     The office ladies look at me, somewhat horrified, as I enter the office.

     “Can I help you?” One asks as I take my headphones off, hanging them around my neck, the music still playing.

     “I was told to go to the office,” I say, my voice quiet, but polite, “to get my schedule and locker combo?”

     “Oh, you must be Astrid Price!” A woman nearby says.

     I turn to see a well dressed African American woman, and smile politely.

     “I’m Ms. Kelly,” she says, “the guidance counselor here at Hawkins Highschool. You can come to me if you ever need to talk about anything, okay?”

     I nod a little, feeling my eyebrow twitch a little.

     “I’ll get your schedule for you,” she says, “and your locker combination and number,”

     I nod. “Thank you, Ms. Kelly,” I mutter.

     She nods, and turns, exiting the office. After a few seconds, she returns, and hands me a piece of paper. “Here you go,” she says, “if you need help finding anywhere, just ask, okay?”

     I nod, looking over the schedule. I turn around, walking out of the office, putting my headphones back on.

     “ We’re not gonna take it, Oh no, we ain’t gonna take it, We’re not gonna take it anymore! ”

     I wander a little, looking for my locker, when I bump into a girl in a cheerleader uniform. I look at her, and move one of my headphones. “Sorry…” I mutter.

     She smiles, politely, but I can tell she doesn’t want to talk to me.

     “Watch where you’re going, freak,” another girl says, pushing passed me.

     I sigh softly, rolling my eyes a little. “At least get creative…” I mutter.

     “What was that?” The girl snaps.

     “Get creative with the insults,” I say, louder, “I’ve been called a ‘freak’ my entire high school career, it’s getting old,”

     “What are you going to do about it, Freak?” She asks, stepping closer to me, standing toe-to-toe with me, looking me in the eyes.

     I raise an eyebrow. I then smirk a little. I then blink. “Done,” I say, and turn away, continuing to look for my locker.

     “What…” she calls after me, “what-what was that?!”

     “You’ll find out,” I say, not turning to look at her. I smirk a little, and move my headphones back over my ear.

---

     “We just need to find a few more players,” I say to Jeff, “Are you sure you’ve asked everyone?”

     “Yeah, and they’ve all turned us down,” Gareth says.

     I sigh, and run my hands through my hair. “There’s got to be someone…” I mutter, when someone catches my attention from the corner of my eye.

     A girl I haven’t seen before. Her hair is raven black with red and purple streaks, done in a sleek, twin-braids style with straight-across bangs, held back by a blood red headband. She has heavy, dark eye makeup, streaks spreading out, resembling eyelashes, black lipstick, and her nails are painted black. She’s wearing a black Van Halen t-shirt over a striped long sleeve shirt, fishnet gloves and stockings, black overalls with an almost-knee-length, pleated black skirt adorned with safety pins down the right side, knee high, slouching black and white socks, and Mary Jane shoes. Both of her ears are pierced in multiple places, and she has a silver necklace with a cross on it. She’s holding her books, and has headphones on, connected to a cassette player on her belt. She glances at me, and I see that her eyes are a sort of ice blue.

     I feel myself freeze, unable to think, move, anything, watching her walk by. 

     We keep eye contact for a few seconds as she passes.

     She smiles softly at me, then she breaks the staring contest to look forward as she walks.

     I feel my shoulders sink, not a thought or anything coming to mind.

     “Hey,” I hear Gareth say, “Eddie. Eddie?” He shakes me a little.

     I jump a little, and glare at him, but then look back toward where the girl went.

     She’s disappeared into the crowd.

     “Who was that?” I ask, pointing in the direction that she went.

     “Who?” Jeff asks.

     “That…work of art,” I say, feeling a small smile spread across my face.

     “Price?” Gareth says, “I’ve heard that she’s a witch,”

     “I’ve heard the same thing!” Jeff says, “She cursed a cheerleader, I think,”

     “Aren’t her parents, like…priests or something?” Gareth asks.

     Jeff just shrugs a little.

     I just nod a little, not entirely listening. I pause. “Wait, a witch?” I ask, looking at Gareth.

     “Yeah,” he says, “People say she’ll curse you if you look her in the eyes,”

     I roll my eyes a little. “Just rumors,” I say, “laid down by the popular crowd,”

     “I don’t know…” Jeff says, “…I saw her angrily spewing Latin at a basketball player, making weird hand motions,” he kind of imitates whatever he saw, making Gareth laugh a little.

     I chuckle a little. “Looks like someone likes theatrics…” I mutter, “…I’d like to talk to her, maybe ask if she’d like to join Hellfire,” before anyone can protest, I turn on my heel, marching toward the cafeteria for lunch. I enter the cafeteria, get my lunch, and take a look around, looking for the girl.

     She’s sitting in the back corner of the cafeteria, reading a book as she eats.

     I smile softly. I walk over to her table, and sit across from her.

     She looks up from her book, raising an eyebrow a little. She takes off her headphones, hanging them around her neck.

     Oingo Boingo leaks from the speakers.

     I hold eye contact with her for a second or so. “So…” I say, tilting my head a little, “am I cursed yet?” 

     She raises both eyebrows, and chuckles. She rolls her eyes, but the chuckles eventually evolve into full laughs, making her cover her mouth. “Sorry…” she says, eventually winding down, “…was that the best you got? ‘Am I cursed yet?’”

     I chuckle a little. “Well, you laugh normal enough,” I say, “I thought you might cackle or something,”

     She laughs a little. “‘I’ll get you my pretty!’” She says, imitating the Wicked Witch from the Wizard of Oz.

     I raise my eyebrows, laughing a little.

     “So, that’s the current rumor, huh?” She asks, “That I curse people by looking them in the eyes?” Her smile seems to be hiding something. Regret, maybe resignation. 

     “Seems like it,” I say, shrugging, “so…I do have the honor of an audience with the Witch of Hawkins High?” I bow a little, which is a little awkward sitting down.

     She laughs a little, rolling her eyes. “Yes, you do,” She says, marking her page and setting her book down, “What can I do for you?”

     ‘Oh, a lot of things…’ a small voice in my head says, but I sort of shove it to the back of my mind. “I was just curious if m’lady played the game Dungeons and Dragons,” I say, leaning forward on the table, tilting my head a little.

     Her eyes light up a little, her eyebrows raising. “I do…” she says, then seems to deflate a little, “…though, I’m currently missing all of my items for it…”

     I furrow my eyebrows a little. “How come, if you don’t mind my asking,” I say.

     She sighs, and looks away from me. “Well, I just moved, so things get lost,” she says, quietly, “let’s leave it at that,”

     I narrow my eyes a little, but nod. “Alright,” I say, “Well, I’m sure we can scrounge together a set of dice for you, and getting a character sheet for you shouldn’t be too difficult. So…what do you say? Want to join the Hellfire Club?”

     She looks at me, a strange, mischievous twinkle in her eyes. “Hellfire Club?” She asks, “that’s a sweet name,”

     I smile. “So…is that a yes?” I ask.

     She chuckles. “That it is,” she says, “I’m Price, by the way. Astrid Price,” she extends her hand.

     “Eddie Munson,” I say, taking her hand and shaking it a little, “Dungeon Master,”

     She smiles. “Pleasure to meet you,” she says.

     “Oh, the pleasure’s all mine, believe me,” I mutter, “Why don’t you come sit with me and the boys?”

     She glances over at our table, and seems to hesitate. “Maybe tomorrow?” She says, “I…I’m already part way through my lunch, and changing seats right now would feel kinda useless…”

     I nod, though I feel a little saddened. “I get it,” I say, standing up, “well, see you tomorrow, Price,” backing up a little, smiling at her as I walk toward our lunch table. I sit down, and sigh.

     “So?” Jeff asks, “What’d she say?”

     “She’ll join,” I say, “Her name is Astrid, by the way,”

     They all look over their shoulders at her, and then back at me.

     “Oh, and if anyone has spare dice, she’ll need some,” I say, between bites of my food, “said she lost her stuff in the move, though…I’m not sure if I believe that. Smelled like a lie to me,”

     “I mean, it’d make sense if her parents threw it all away before they moved,” Jeff says.

     “Yeah, that’s…kinda on brand for preachers…” Gareth says, “They probably believe that it’s Satanic or some shit…”

     I smile, looking over at Astrid. “A rebel…I like it…” I mutter, starting to tune out the others’ conversations as I watch her.

     She glances up at me a few times, and smiles a little more each time.

Chapter Text

Chapter Text

(A few weeks later)

“I know, I know,” I say to my manager through the pay phone, “but, I don’t have a ride right now! My brother has a baseball game, so my parents are there, and I just got out of a school club,”

He sighs. “Astrid…you can’t keep doing this,” he says.

“I almost have enough for my own ride,” I say, “I’ve aced my test, and I’m just waiting for my license. This won’t be an issue for much longer, I promise,”

“Just…take tonight off, okay?” He says, “I’ll…call someone to cover your shift, alright?”

I pause, and sigh. “Am I fired?” I ask, quietly.

He chuckles. “No, you’re not fired, Price,” he says, “you’re the best damn clerks we’ve ever had, and I’m not getting rid of you so soon,”

I sigh in relief. “Thank you, sir,” I say, “I promise, I’ll be early tomorrow,”

“Don’t worry about it, kid,” he says, “I’m gonna hang up now,”

“Okay,” I say, “goodnight, sir,”

“Goodnight, Price,” he says, and we both hang up.

I sigh, and walk over to the curb in front of the doors to the school, and sit down. I put my messenger bag on my lap, and lean forward onto it. I watched the entrance to the school parking lot, almost hoping I’d see our station wagon.

Someone sighs and flops down onto the curb next to me. “Stuck for a ride again, Star?” Eddie asks me.

I look over at him, and nod a little.

He rolls his eyes a little. “Let me guess, Zach had a baseball game?” He asks in a sort of mocking, patronizing voice.

I nod a little.

He sighs again. “Alright. Get your patootie into my van,” he says, “I’m driving your ass home, whether your dad likes it or not,”

“No,” I say quickly. I stare at him, a little scared.

He furrowed his eyebrows. “Hey…” he mutters, placing a hand on my knee.

I wince, the deep bruises on my knee screaming a little.

He pauses, and looks at my knee. His eyes flick open in surprise. “Woah, Astrid…” he mutters, “what-“

“I fell,” I say, quickly, “it’s nothing,”

He sighs, almost like a growl. “Bullshit,” he says, “what happened?”

I look down at my feet. “Hail Mary, Full of Grace, The Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now, and at the hour of our death. Amen…” I mutter, gently rubbing my knees.

He pauses, and then growls again. “That asshole…” he mutters, “…Come on, I’m taking you home,” He stands up and pulls me to my feet.

I furrow my eyebrows, panic rising in my chest.

---

I get out of Eddie’s van, just outside of my house, and, again, my Father is waiting on our porch.

“You have tried my patience too many times, girl…” he says, his rage palpable, “get in here, now,”

I start forward, but I feel someone grab my shoulder.

“Uh…I don’t think so,” Eddie says, sort of pulling me back and stepping in front of me, acting like a shield, “Not until I get some answers,”

“Eddie, don’t…” I mutter, feeling myself shake a little.

“First of all:” Eddie continues, “what kind of father ignores one child, who needed to get to her job, for one who was just playing a stupid sport? Oh, right…it was your son. Gotta love misogyny, huh?” He takes a breath, steadying his slightly shaking voice. “Second, and the next few minutes ride on the answer to this question:” he says, “do you make Astrid kneel on rice to say her Hail Mary bullshit?” His voice is saturated with anger.

I glance at him, and see a look of rage on his face that makes a chill go up my spine. ‘Actually…not just a little scary, but…kinda hot as well…’ I think, but push the thought away.

“What does it matter to you?” My father responds, indignantly, “she’s not your responsibility,”

“And she shouldn’t be yours!” Eddie snaps, “You’ve been starving her, hurting her, the whole nine yards, haven’t you? Just for following her interests, right?”

“She’s corrupted,” father says, “I’m trying to correct it before it consumes her. Bring her back into the flock,”

Eddie sighs, rolling his head back, and takes a step forward. “SHE’S NOT A FUCKING SHEEP!” He shouts, “And she’s not corrupted. She is one of the purest, most genuine people I’ve ever met. She cares for everyone she holds dear: her siblings, her friends, her coworkers, everyone! You just can’t see past your goddamned bible to see that clearly!”

“And this is why she will no longer be allowed to be around you, Munson!” My father returns his volume, stepping forward as well, descending the stairs, standing toe-to-toe with the young man. “No more of that…foolish game,” he says, poking Eddie’s chest to punctuate each of his protests, “no more of that music, no more of the fishnets and disgusting hussy clothes! I will not have you corrupt her further!” He grabs Eddie’s shirt as Eddie starts to protest, “And if one more word leaves your mouth, you will never see her again,”

I gasp, and, almost out of instinct, grab Eddie’s hand.

He grips it back.

My father looks at our hands, and a look of rage I have been taught to fear shows in his eyes, though not disturbing his otherwise placid face. “So…” he mutters, “that’s how it is?” he looks me in the eyes, and lets go of Eddie, pushing him away slightly. “Get out of my sight, ungrateful wench,”

I feel myself freeze. “No…wait…” I mutter.

“You think you’re so grown up?” He spits, stepping closer to me, Eddie shielding me a little, “so…ready for the world? It will chew you up and shit you out, no second thoughts given! But, no…go, elope with your…Prince Charming. You will not be missed. I’ll give you ten minutes to gather your things. If you’re not gone by then, I’m calling the police,”

I stare, shocked, feeling numb. That is, until Eddie tugs my hand a little.

“Come on, Little Star,” he mutters, “lets go gather your stuff,”

I nod a little, and we walk around my father and into the house together. Tears stream down my face as I lead him up to my room and start to hurriedly pack my things.

“What do you need me to grab?” Eddie asks.

“I…I think I’ve got it,” I say, “just…be here for moral support,”

He nods, standing in my doorway, almost acting as a human wall.

I pack all of my clothes, and start to pack other things. After nearly five minutes, I have everything packed into two suitcases and a backpack. I look around at the decorations in my room: the paintings, the posters, the drawings Hannah gave me. I take a deep, shaking breath, an ache starting deep in my chest.

“I’ve got the suitcases,” Eddie says, gently, “You have your messenger bag and your backpack. Let’s get these down to the van, and you can crash at mine and my uncle’s place, okay?”

I nod, grabbing the backpack. I hadn’t taken off my messenger bag with my school things in it.

We walked down to the front hall, where my parents wait, the front door open.

My father is holding the house phone, a grim look on his face.

My Mother refuses to look at me.

I take a deep breath, and lower my head.

Just as we were about to leave, I heard running footsteps from behind me.

“Astrid!” Both Hannah and Zachary call from behind me.

I turn and drop my backpack, catching both of them in a tight hug. “You guys be good for mom and dad, okay?” I say, “I’ll try to call every once in a while, okay?”

“You’d better!” Hannah cries, “I don’t want you to go!”

“I don’t have a choice, Bub…” I mutter, tears spilling down my own face.

We all hold the hug for a bit, then our mother pulls them away from me.

“That’s enough,” she says, “it’s time for you two to go to bed,”

I stand up, and grab the backpack. I turn back around, and walk past my father to where Eddie is waiting for me.

“You okay?” Eddie asks me, quietly.

I nod. “Let’s just…get going…” I mutter, heading toward his van.

---

“…kicked her out,” Eddie quietly explains to his uncle as I sit on a couch in their trailer, “she had nowhere else to go, Uncle Wayne…”

His uncle considers him for a little while, then sighs. “Why’d they kick her out?” He asks, “She ain’t…” he glances at me, quickly looking me up and down.

Eddie pauses, then jolts a little. “Oh, god, no,” he says, quickly, “they’re just super-religious assholes who think she’s on the path to corruption or some bigoted shit like that. Yeah, she likes rock music, ravens, the color black, and D&D, but there’s nothing demonic about her! Please, just…until she can get a place of her own?”

His uncle turns back to look at him. He sighs.

“If…if you don’t want me here, I can go,” I say, standing up, “I don’t want to upset anyone. I can…I don’t know, ask Gareth or any of the party members if I can crash there. Or, hell, I could just find a comfy bench in a park or something,”

Eddie looks at me, a slightly surprised, confused, and disappointed look on his face. “No, Astrid,” he says, “I’m not going to sleep well at night knowing you’re sleeping in a park,” he chuckles nervously.

His uncle sighs again. “You can stay,” he says, “I’ll pull the couch out so you can sleep there, okay?”

“I’ll sleep on the couch,” Eddie says, “She can have my bed,”

“No, Eddie-” I start but he raises a hand, interrupting me.

“No way, Dollface,” he says, smiling mischievously, “you at least deserve a bed after this rude upheaval of your life,”

I sigh, and nod a little. “No fighting with you,” I mutter, softly.

“Smart move,” he says, his smile widening a little.

“We should let her get ready for bed,” his Uncle suggests, “Have any night-clothes?”

I nod, going to one of my bags. I grab an Oingo-Boingo shirt, shorts, and Boingo, my rabbit plush. “I’ll need to find the bathroom…clean up my makeup…” I mutter, suddenly feeling very tired. I hug Boingo to my chest, images of the day my grandmother gave him to me flickering through my head. I sniff a little and wipe my eyes.

Eddie stands nearby, and furrows his eyebrows, looking from the rabbit to me. He smiles softly. “Who’s the…fuzzy little friend?” He asks.

I smile softly. “Boingo…” I mutter, “…I’ve had him since I was three, naming him even before I knew Oingo Boingo existed…”

He chuckles. “Cute name,” he says, taking a step closer and gently grabbing one of Boingo’s ears, gently rubbing a thumb over the fuzz, “Here, I’ll show you to the bathroom. I’m pretty sure we have some spare towels, if you want to take a shower…” he starts down the hallway.

I nod, and start to follow him, but stop when I feel someone grab my shoulder. I look at Eddie’s uncle, furrowing my eyebrows a little.

He looks from Eddie, to me. He gives a soft, comforting smile. “You’re safe here…” he mutters softly, “stay as long as you need…if he comes calling, wanting trouble…just let me know. I’ll take care of it,”

I smile a little and nod. “Thank you, Mr. Munson…” I mutter.

He smiles kindly. “Wayne,” he says, “Call me Wayne,”

I smile and nod. “Thank you…Wayne…” I mutter.

He nods. “Goodnight, Astrid,” he says.

I nod. “Night,” I say, following Eddie.

---

A week or two later, I’m sitting at lunch with the rest of the Hellfire Club, eating the mystery meat sandwich I was given. I crinkle my nose a little.

Gareth chuckles a little. “What, don’t like the probably-not-meat?” He asks.

I chuckle a little. “It’s most likely red food coloring and paper pulp. Like the nuggets at McDonalds,” I say, taking a bite of the sandwich. I grimace. “Yeah, that’s one thing I miss about the house…” I mutter, “…being able to pack lunches…”

Eddie briefly looks at me. “If you wanted packed lunches, Dollface, you could’ve just said,” he says, smirking, “we’ll add stuff for them to the grocery list,”

I chuckle and roll my eyes. “I’m fine with the almost-meat,” I mutter, “I wouldn’t want to impose,”

He scoffs. “‘Impose’?” He asks, “You live there, just as much as me and Uncle Wayne. If you want packed lunches, Little Star, just ask,”

I nod, continuing to eat my sandwich, feeling myself blush.

Jeff chuckles a little, nudging Gareth. “That’s…five pet separate names in just as many minutes?” He says, “You sure you two aren’t a couple?”

I looked up, panicked, and quickly looked at Eddie.

He doesn’t seem to have heard, continuing to eat his own lunch. Or he’s ignoring him.

I continue eating my sandwich, thinking of what I could buy for packed lunches. ‘Lunch meat, definitely,’ I think, ‘and other stuff for sandwiches. And snacks. Like…chips or something. Since Wayne takes left-overs for his lunch. Speaking of, what should dinner be tonight…’ I’m pulled out of my daydreaming as someone taps my shoulder from behind me. I look up, and smile at Barbara Holland, a friend of mine.

Her friend, Nancy stands behind her, looking a little unsure about me.

“Hi, Astrid!” Barb says, and then glances at the others at the table, “How are you?”

I smile softly. “I’m…alright,” I say, “all things considered…” I look at Nancy, and smile a little.

She returns the smile, nervously.

“‘All things considered’?” She echos, “what…what do you mean?”

“Barb…” Nancy says, nudging her.

“It…it’s fine, Wheeler…” I mutter, then sigh, “My parents kicked me out, like…two, three weeks ago?”

“Oh, god!” She gasps, “I’m sorry!”

I shrug a little. “It was a long time coming…” I mutter, glancing at Nancy again. “That’s why you’re talking to me, right? Heard rumors or some shit?”

She looks a little nervous. “Uh…” she mutters.

Nancy sighs. “Yeah,” she says, “and…if you need anything, don’t be afraid to ask, okay?” She glances at Eddie, “My mom likes you. Says you’re a good kid, despite-“

“Despite appearances?” I say.

She nods a little. “Well…we’ll leave you alone, now,” she says, tugging Barb’s sleeve, “see you later,”

I nod a little. “See you, Wheeler,” I mutter, watching them walk away. I sigh and check my watch, and sigh again. “Eds, I, uh…I gotta go…” I mutter, standing up, grabbing my stuff, “Work,”

He looks at me, his smile dropping. “Oh, shit, really?” He asks, glancing up at a clock.

I nod. “Yeah,” I say, “I just gotta cover for Linda, one of the elderly ladies who work there. She fell, hurt her hip, and can't work,”

He nods a little. “Bring snacks home?” He asks, a mischievous twinkle in his eye.

I smile, and chuckle. “Yeah, yeah, feed your jackrabbit metabolism,” I say, starting to walk away.

He laughs. “Aw, come on, Baby Doll,” he says, grabbing me and pulling me toward him and onto his lap, “you don’t want me to starve, do you? You care that much…”

I freeze up, my face on fire, and I find my mind goes blank. All I can look at is his dark eyes and mischievous smile. I smile back, and chuckle a little. I punch his shoulder lightly. “You’re lucky I do…” I mutter.

“Good, ‘cause you ain’t getting rid of me too easily, I’d hope you know,” he says, booping my nose, “Till death do us part, Dollface,”

“Unfortunately,” I say, booping him back, and standing up. My face heats up more as I hear the laughter of the other club members from behind me as I leave the cafeteria.

---

I take a deep breath as I continue stocking shelves at the general store, and check my watch. I bite the inside of my cheek a little.

“Price!” My manager calls out, “Need you at the check out!”

“Gotcha!” I call back. I put the last item on the shelf, and swiftly walk up to my check out station, and smile kindly at Mrs. Wheeler.

She smiles back, tilting her head a little. “Astrid?” She asks, “Shouldn’t you be at school?”

“I’m covering for Linda,” I say, scanning her stuff, “Got permission to leave school early,”

She nods. She taps her fingers on the counter a little, then softly clears her throat. “I, uh…I haven’t seen you at your parents’ church recently…” she mutters, “I asked Amelia where you were, but she changed the subject,”

I pause, gritting my teeth. I take a deep breath, looking at the display of all the things I scanned. “That’ll be $37.70…” I mutter.

She pauses. “And you’re avoiding it too,” she says, quietly, handing me $40, “I…I know it’s none of my business-“

“They kicked me out,” I say, quickly, “and now, apparently, they just want to act like I never existed. And I really don’t care. My life is better now that I’m not in that hell-house. Paper or plastic?” I look her in the eyes as I hand over her change.

She looks at me, shocked, accepting the change. “Paper…” she mutters.

I nod, bagging her things.

We didn't speak after that, and I handed her bag to her.

“Well…” she says, softly, “don’t be afraid to ask if you need anything,”

I nod, and watch as she leaves. I take a deep breath, and rub my eyes, trying to stop the tears from falling.

“Wow…” I hear Joyce say from behind me, “That was…curt,”

I turn to look at her.

She gently grabs my shoulder. “You sure you’re ok?” She asks.

I nod a little. “I’m fine,” I say bitterly, “just…sixteen and already kicked out of my house, trying to find my way in the world. Just peachy fucking keen, Joyce…”

She chuckles a little. “Well, I’ve got some good news,” she says.

“That is?” I ask, curiously.

“Will has been talking about his new friend, Zach,” she says, smiling a little, “says he’ll be joining their D&D Party, and they’re playing at Mike’s house tomorrow,”

I smile a little. “I wonder what he told Paul and Amelia…” I mutter.

Joyce looks at me, and chuckles. “Jeez, not even a month and you’ve regressed to first names,” she mutters, “they…are your parents,”

“John and Will call your ex ‘Lonnie’, right?” I say, raising an eyebrow a little.

She sighs. “Point taken…” she mutters, “…I need a smoke break, come out back with me,”

“I don’t smoke,” I say, shaking my head, “and I’ve got restocking I need to finish,”

She nods a little, starts to walk away.

I watch her, and sigh softly. I go back to the shelves I was stocking, and smile softly, thinking about Zach playing D&D. “Taught him well…” I mutter.

Chapter Text

     I mumble a little as I hear the phone in the main area of the trailer ring. “Huh…?” I mutter, “…wassat?”  

     “Mmmm…” Eddie mutters, hugging me closer, laying behind me, nuzzling into the back of my neck, “…just the phone…”

     I sigh. “I’ll answer it…” I mutter.

     “It’s probably nothing…” he mumbles.

     “Or work,” I say, rubbing my eyes, sitting up on the bed. I stand up, pulling myself out of Eddie’s grip, and throwing Boingo at him. “I’ll be right back,” I say.

     He whines, burying his face into Boingo as I leave the room.

     I grab the phone from the wall. “Hello?” I say.

     “Astrid?” Joyce asks from the other end.

     “Joyce?” I start to feel worried, “What’s going on? You sound upset,”

     “Will’s missing,” she says, “I-I…he wasn’t home from last night, so I asked both Karen and Amelia if he had stayed the night at either of their houses, but neither of them have seen him, and I…” she takes a deep breath.

     I freeze, panic starting to well up in my chest. “Need me to come with you to the police?” I ask, turning a little as I hear Eddie approach from behind me.

     He’s still holding Boingo, and looks concerned at the mention of the police. “What’s going on?” He asks.

     I lower the phone. “One of Zach’s friends is missing,” I say, “Will Byers,” I raise the phone to my ear again. “I’m still here, Joyce,” I say.

     “I’d appreciate the moral support,” Joyce says, “need me to pick you up?”

     “I’ll meet you there,” I say, “I’ll have Eddie drop me off on the way to school,”

     She nods a little. “I hope this doesn’t make you late…” she mutters.

     “Joyce, you know that I’d play hookie if you asked me to, right?” I say, “Your son is missing, you need all the help and support you can get,”

     Joyce sighs. “Thank you so much, Astrid…” she mutters, “…you don’t know what this means to me…”

     I nod a little. “We’ll meet you at the station,” I say.

     “Right,” she says, “see you there,” and she hangs up.

     I look at Eddie as I hang the phone up.

     He looks stunned. “Jesus…” he mutters, “…we’d better get dressed, huh?”

     “Uh, yeah,” I say, passing him, grabbing Boingo from him.

--- 

     I get out of Eddie’s van as he idles in front of the Police Station. I tap on the hood of the van, and wave to him.

     He waves back and pulls away as I walk up to the station.

     As I enter, Joyce is arguing with the lady behind the front desk.

     “…don’t care, call him or something!” She says, panicked, “my son is missing, and I need to talk to Sheriff Hopper now!”

     “Mrs. Byers,” the lady says, “I can’t just call the Sheriff-“

     “Then I’ll wait here for him,” Joyce says, “when does he usually come in? I’ll wait in his office,”

     The lady looks at me as I approach, and seems a little taken aback.

     I gently grab Joyce’s shoulder.

     “Oh, Astrid…” she mutters, briefly hugging me, “…here, come on, we’ll wait for Hopper in his office…” She grabs my hand and pulls me up the stairs.

     “Wait, Joyce!” The woman behind the desk calls out, but Joyce ignores her.

     “Joyce…” I mutter, “…are we allowed to do this?”

     “I went to school with Hopper,” she says, “he’ll understand. We’ll just wait for him here,”

     I sigh, and nod. “I will never get used to the look the older generation gives me when they first see me,” I chuckle a little.

     She chuckles as well. “Well…you’re a little toned down today,” she says, looking at me, “no makeup at all,”

     “Yeah, I thought it best not to go all out, if I’m helping you,” I say, shrugging a little, gently tapping my hair that I hastily tied up into a bun. I didn’t even have time to straighten my bangs this morning, wanting to go as soon as I could.

     “Thanks again for this…” she mutters, walking into an office and sitting in a chair. She takes out a pack of cigarettes and a lighter, putting a cigarette in her mouth.

     I sigh, sitting across from her in another seat. “No problem,” I say, “I may not know Will as well as I wanted to, but…and I don’t say this lightly, you’re my best friend, Joyce,”

     She chuckles a little. “‘Best Friend’?” She asks, “what about that…Eddie, huh? What’s he to you?”

     I pause, thinking. “I-“ I start, then sigh.

     She laughs a little. “I’m teasing, Astrid,” she says, nudging me with her foot. She takes a pull from her cigarette, and turns away from me to exhale. “I’m guessing this is different from where you’ve lived before?”

     I nod. “Yeah…” I mutter, “…it was mostly peaceful…even in, like…New York, Chicago, Detroit, all that…Salem especially,”

     “Salem?” She asks.

     I nod. “That’s where I was born,” I say, “so it’s no wonder I like spooky things,” I laugh, nervously.

     She laughs a little as well. Her joy and conversation seem almost forced, like she’s trying to distract herself from what’s going on, or she’ll break down. She’s very noticeably still on edge.

     I sigh. “Joyce…” I say softly, gently grabbing one of her hands.

     She looks at me, tears glistening in her eyes.

     I give a soft, supportive smile. ‘Way different from Amelia…’ I think, ‘…I could never get any kind of emotion from her…’

     She takes a deep breath. “So…have any interaction with your family?” She asks, still trying to distract herself.

     I sigh. I shake my head a little. “I’ve tried to call Hannah, like I promised,” I say, “but…it’s always been either Rebecca or Amelia who answer, and they never let me talk to her. I leave voicemails, but they probably delete them before she hears them…” I sigh.

     She sighs, taking another pull from the cigarette. “It’s bullshit, you know,” she says, “kicking you out over nothing…” she shakes her head a little.

     I smile softly. I start to speak again when we hear someone approaching.

     We both look up, and see a man in a tan police uniform. “Shit…” he mutters. 

     Joyce looks at him, looking upset.

---

     I watch as Sheriff Hopper types a single, ominous word onto the police report, the reality starting to sink in.  

     MISSING

     Hopper looks up from the typewriter. He now has on a pair of reading glasses, which lend him a more earnest look. His desk, however, shatters the illusion: it's cluttered with papers and mugs and candy wrappers, like the desk of a child.

     Joyce is pacing, dragging on a cigarette. She's on edge. 

     I’m starting to feel on edge too, starting to picture what would happen if Zach, Martha, or Hannah went missing. I take a deep breath.

     “We've been waiting an hour,” Joyce says.

     “And I apologize again-“ Hopper says.

     “AN HOUR,” Joyce repeats, annoyed.

     “I understand,” Hopper says, “But a boy his age, most likely he's playing hooky-“ he glances at me.

     “Not my Will, no,” Joyce says, interrupting him, “He wouldn't do that. He's not like that…”

     “You never know,” Hopper says, tilting his head, “My mother thought I was on the debate team, when really I was screwing Chrissy Carpenter in the back of my dad's boat,”

     I stifle laughter, gaining another glance from the officer.

     “Where are you supposed to be?” He asks me, gruffly.

     “Where I’m needed, which, right now, is with Joyce,” I respond, just as curt.

     “Will's not like you,” Joyce says, “He's not like me. He's not like most,” She takes another drag on her cigarette, and I can see she’s fighting tears. “He's got a couple of friends,” she continues, “But everyone else, they…they make fun of him. Call him names, laugh at him, his clothes-“

     “His clothes?” Hopper asks, again briefly glancing at me, “What's wrong with his clothes?”

     “I-I don't know,” Joyce says, and takes another drag. “Lonnie…” she pauses, “Lonnie always said he was queer,”

     “Is he?” Hopper asks.

     “Does it matter?” Joyce responds, almost confused why he would want to know.

     “Maybe,” Hopper says.

     Joyce sighs, and glances at me. “He's missing,” she says, “That's what he is,”

     Hopper sighs softly nod scratches his stubble, thinking. “You hear from Lonnie lately?” He asks.

     I pause, and look at Joyce.

     Joyce hesitates. This is an uncomfortable subject. “He was in Indianapolis last I heard,” she says, “That was about a year ago. But he's got nothing to do with this.

     Hopper rummages around his desk, and unearths a pen and a pad of paper. “What's his number?” He asks.

     “I told you, he's got nothin' to do with this-“ Joyce insists.

     “Kid goes missing,” Hopper interrupts her, “ninety-nine times outta a hundred the kid's with a parent or relative-“

     “What about the other time?” Joyce interrupts him.

     “What?” Hopper asks.

     “You said ‘ninety-nine outta a hundred’,” Joyce says, almost desperately, ‘What about the other time? The one,”

     I sigh softly, rubbing my forearm a little. Some of the bruises a little fresh, even months later.

     Hopper removes his reading glasses and leans forward. “This is Hawkins, Joyce,” he says, “In four years, you know the worst thing I've seen? You know what it was?” He pauses. “When that owl attacked Eleanor Gillepsie,” he continues, “Thought her hair was a nest. I mean…it does look like a nest, doesn't it? All that frizz?” He chuckles at the memory. It’s obvious he’s trying to lighten the mood. 

     I smile a little, but only politely.

     Joyce begins to relax a little. But only a little. She sighs softly. “I'll call Lonnie,” she says, “He'll talk to me before he talks to a-“

     “-pig?” Hopper finishes her sentence.

     “Cop,” Joyce finishes. She sits down, and gently grabs my shoulder.

     I smile softly at her, and gently grab her arm.

     She snuffs her cigarette in an ashtray. Then she looks back up at Hopper. Her eyes are bloodshot. Glassy. “Find my son, Hop,” she says, in a tone that makes my heart ache, “Find him,”

     Hopper pauses, looking at her. He seems almost reluctant, and glances at me.

     I look at him, also desperate. It almost feels like my own brother is missing, with how close I am to Joyce.

     Hopper sighs. He finds his composure, nudges his glasses back on his nose, and resumes typing.

---

     “Lonnie. It's Joyce,” Joyce says, on the phone. She’s pacing, dragging hard on yet another cigarette.

     I watch her from the living room as I sit with Jonathan.

     He glances at me, then at his mother.

     “Who is this?” Joyce says, “Cynthia? This is Joyce. Joyce, Lonnie's ex-wife. I need to speak to him. This is an emergency. No, not later, now bitch,”

     I chuckle a little, and then check my watch. “I told Eddie to grab me after school…” I mutter.

     “Takes a bit to get here from the school,” Jonathan says. He then looks at his mother. “Mom, you need to stay calm,” he says. He’s working on a missing person’s poster, making me feel even more uneasy about the situation.

     “I'm calm,” Joyce says, but its obvious that she’s furious. She hangs up then dials the number again. She pauses, listens, and seems to get more and more angry. Finally she speaks. “Lonnie, some teenage whore just hung up on me,” she says into the phone, “You don't call me back in the next hour I'll report you for not paying child support, I swear to God I will, and I'll make sure you rot in jail where you belong,”

     WHAM! 

     Joyce slams the phone down.

     I chuckle a little.

     “Mom,” Jonathan says.

     “What?” Joyce responds.

     We both look at him and see that Jonathan isn't looking at her. He's looking out the window.

     “Cops,” he says.

     Joyce quickly strides across the room and explodes out onto the porch. 

     Jonathan and I look at each other and quickly follow. 

     It's Hopper and other police officers, parking in the driveway.

     As Hopper exits his vehichle, he pulls Will's bike out of the back.

     I raise a hand to my mouth and Joyce grabs my hand.

     That’s when a distant car honk catches my attention.

     I look up and see Eddie, hanging out of his front window of his van, honking with his knee. 

     He waves at me, then waves me over.

     I wave back a little. “Joyce…” I mutter, tugging her hand, “I gotta go. Eddie is wary of cops, so…”

     She sighs and nods. She then hugs me. “Thank you so much,” she mutters.

     I nod, hugging her back. “Just call if you need anything else,” I say.

     She nods, and I start to walk toward Eddie’s van, when Hopper stops me.

     He glances over his shoulder at Eddie. “That Munson?” He asks.

     I nod a little. “I’ve been staying with him since my parents kicked me out,” I say, “I turn eighteen this October, so, no use calling CPS…”

     He furrows his eyebrows. “Why’d they kick you out?” He asks, actually sounding both genuinely curious and concerned.

     “Because they’re religious assholes and think that just because I wear black and fishnets that I’m the devil’s whore,” I say, bluntly, crossing my arms, starting to get a little annoyed, “Can I go now?”

     He seems a little stunned, and glances at Eddie again. He nods, and turns to let me pass.

     I pass him, and quickly walk toward Eddie’s van, getting in.

     He glances at me, and looks at all of the cop cars. “Holy shit…” he mutters, “this…this is real, right?” He looks at me, looking nervous.

     I nod. “Let’s just get home, okay,” I say, “I’ll tell you what I know,”

---

     That night, back at the trailer, I’m making Mac-and-cheese for me and Eddie, and he’s currently quietly fiddling with a butterfly knife as he thinks about all I’ve told him.

     “Did they talk to any of his friends yet?” He asks, “Like…do they know roundabouts where he went missing?”

     “Maybe, but I didn’t hear anything about it,” I say, pouring the noodles into the water and stirring, “though, I’m only, what…shin deep in this?”

     He sighs and nods. 

     “I know,” I say, “You and I both know what it’s like to run away…”

     He pauses. “Wait…both?” He asks, “you…you ran, too?”

     I nod a little. “Before our first move,” I say, “we were leaving Salem, where I had lived all my life, but…I didn’t want to. My life was there. I was born there, had all my friends there, hell saw my grandma die there-“ I pause, listening to myself, realizing I’m opening up about something I’ve closed off for so long. I sigh. I look over my shoulder at Eddie, almost hoping he ignored the comment.

     He’s looking at me, perched on the counter of the kitchen, wearing a Metallica shirt and boxers, his jaw-length, fluffy hair pushed back by one of my bright red hair bands he was wearing as a joke. He looks stunned. “Baby…” he mutters, “…Astrid…you’ve mentioned she died, but never-“

     “Doesn’t matter,” I say, quickly, taking some of the noodles out of the water, blowing on them, and testing them, “happened a long time ago…”

     “But, Astrid,” he says, getting off of the counter, and walking up to me, gently rubbing my back, “it bothers you, I can tell. You can talk to me, you know that…”

     I shake my head a little. “Not about this…” I mutter, “I…it just…” I look at him, “it still hurts too much…” tears drip from my eyes.

     He sighs, and nods. “But…you running away?” He asks, softly.

     I take a deep breath, and nod. “Well, the night before our move, I ran,” I say, “grabbed my stuff, Boingo included, and just…ran. But, I didn’t know where else to go other than my grandmother’s, so…I found a way in, went to what I remembered as the guest room I’d always stay in, but…” I take a deep breath, “it was already changed into a kid’s room, and I scared them. I just dropped to my knees and started sobbing. Even as their dad was yelling at me, I just sobbed, because…losing her house was like losing her again, and…” I wipe my eyes on my shirt. I grab the pot of noodles and pour it into the colander in the sink.

     Eddie has me put the pot down and hugs me. He holds me close, my face buried in his chest.

     I grip onto his shirt and sob quietly. I take a deep breath.

     “My parents also hated who I was,” he mutters, “they didn't want a…deadbeat, metal head, queer son, I guess…I kept getting detentions, getting arrested, and falling in with the wrong crowd. One night, my dad and I had a fight. A bad one. Insults and fists were flying, and he…he locked me in my room that night, but I just…grabbed my things and ran. Snuck out my bedroom window. The only person I knew to go to was Uncle Wayne…and he took me in,”

     I look up at him.

     He’s looking away, his eyes distant. He sighs, and looks down at me. He smiles softly. “I guess…seeing you being treated like that hit…way too close to home,” he mutters, “my dad wasn’t a priest, but a veteran. He was going to send me to military school, and that’s what started the fight. He forced me to buzz my hair, forced me to wear clothes I hated. I was miserable. That fight was probably the best thing that ever happened, but…ever since then, I’ve ran. I’ve always ran from a fight, ‘no point in getting hurt again’ I tell myself,” he sighs. “Until I met you,” he mutters.

     I smile, and nuzzle into his chest again.

     We hold the hug for a few seconds, when the phone rings. We both sigh.

     “I’ll get it,” Eddie says, letting go of me, “You got it this morning,”

     I nod, pouring the drained noodles back into the pot. I add some butter as I hear Eddie grab the phone.

     “Munson residence,” he says, then pauses, listening. “This is Eddie,” he says.

     I pour milk and the powdered cheese into the noodles, and look at Eddie as I stir the Mac-and-cheese.

     He looks at me. “Yeah, she’s here,” he says, “Who’s calling?” He pauses, his face dropping a little. He moves the phone from his ear and holds it out to me. “It’s Martha,” he says, sounding confused.

     I furrow my eyebrows, and trade the phone for the pot. “It needs to be stirred a little more,” I say, then holding the phone to my ear. “Martha?” I ask.

     “Astrid?” Her voice whispers from the other end, “Is Zach with you?”

     I pause. “No,” I say, worry rising in my chest, “Martha, what’s going on?”

     “He just…ran off with his friends,” she says, “His…Party, he calls them. Grabbed his bike and said something about Mirkwood? He had a flashlight and his backpack was packed with God only knows…” She sighs, “I would go looking for him before mother and father found out, but…I have to look after Hannah,”

     I sigh, and nod. I move the phone and look at Eddie. “Eddie, is there anywhere in town that people would call Mirkwood?” I ask, “like…kids or something?”

     He pauses, eating out of the pot. “Well…” he says, muffled slightly by a mouthful of noodles, then swallows, “there’s a weird, dark road through the woods near…” he pauses. He looks at me. “Near the Byers’ house…” he mutters.

     I sigh. “They went looking for Will…” I mutter, then put the phone back up to my ear. “Thank you, Martha, I’ll go find him,” I say.

     “Thank you, Astrid,” she says.

     “Martha?” I say, before she hangs up, “Can…can you tell Hannah Happy Birthday from me? I…I left her gift in my closet, hidden on the top shelf. Hopefully Paul and Amelia didn’t throw it out…”

     Martha sighs. “I need to go,” she says, “I’ll be in big trouble if they find out I called you…”  

     “Okay,” I say, “thank you again,”

     “Good afternoon,” she mutters, then hangs up.

     I sigh, hanging up as well. “Eddie, get some pants on,” I say, “dinner is going to have to wait,”

---

     I hop out of Eddie’s van, my hair tied up again, wearing my pair of Doc Martins I wear for work and a leather jacket I borrowed from Eddie over a Van Halen tee. I’m holding a flashlight, switching it on as the van turns off, and Eddie jogs to catch up to me.

     “Hold on, Astrid!” He calls out, slipping a little as he gets to me, but staying upright, “it’s getting dark, and I think it’s going to rain,”

     “All the more reason to find them,” I say, “come on,” I walk toward the trees, and pause, seeing a line of police tape, wrapped around a row of trees along the side of the road.

     A chill makes it’s way from my scalp and crawls it’s way down my spine.

     BOOM! 

     A heavy rumble shatters the silence, making both Eddie and I jump. 

     We both look up. 

     Sheet lightning flashes the sky, illuminating dark storm clouds.

     Large, fat plops of water start to fall all around us, and I look at Eddie.

     He looks at me, looking mildly terrified.

     I sigh, and walk into the woods, shining my light around.

     “Woah, hey, wait, Astrid!” He calls out, following me. He follows me, turning his own flashlight on as another boom rattles us.

     The rain falls through the bare branches of the trees, soaking us in minutes.

     “Zach!” I call out, “Zach, where are you?!”

     There’s a long pause.

     “-trid?!” Zach’s voice calls out from a distance.

     I sigh.

     “That was…that way,” Eddie says, pointing, “let’s go,”

     I nod, and go in the way he indicated.

     It doesn’t take us long to see the boys’ flashlights.

     I sigh again. “Zach!” I call out again, “Jesus fucking Christ!”

     “Astrid!” He exclaims, almost relieved, and races up to me, hugging me.

     “I’m soaked,” I warned him.

     “So am I!” He laughs.

     I let go of him, and hold his shoulders, looking at him. “You shouldn’t be out here!” I say, “You could have gotten lost, or worse!”

     “I let Martha know where I was going,” he says, “and I’m with my friends! Astrid, we need to find Will, okay? Please?”

      I sigh, and look at the other boys. I recognize Mike, Nancy’s little brother, but I don’t recognize the other two. “So,” I say, looking at Zach, “You going to introduce us?”

     Zach smiles, the worry of me being mad at him subsiding. “Guys,” he says, turning to his friends, “this is my eldest sister, Astrid. She's a badass! She’s goth, and plays D&D as well! She also, when we were in Chicago, was part of a shadow cast for Rocky Horror Picture Show every Halloween! She was also born on Halloween, so…yeah. Our parents kicked her out because they thought she was a witch, which is still a shitty reason to kick someone out,” He nods, and then looks at Eddie. He looks back at his friends. “I’m not sure who he is,” he says.

     I chuckle. “This is Eddie,” I say, “Eddie Munson, my…” I look at him.

     He looks at me, and chuckles. “Are we still questioning it at this point, despite us sharing a bed?” He teases, “I’m her boyfriend,” he says, smiling a little, “and, I, too, am well versed in the world of Dungeons and Dragons,”

     The boys all look at us. 

     One that I don’t recognize pipes up first. “I’m Dustin,” he says, waving a little, “Henderson,”

     I wave back a little. “I know who you are,” I say, pointing to Mike, “You’re Nancy’s little brother, Mike,”

     He rolls his eyes a little.

     “And…I’m Lucas,” the last boy says, “Lucas Sinclair,”

     I smile at him. “Hello,”

     “How did you know we’d be here?” Mike asks, almost accusingly.

     “Martha called me, worried about Zach,” I say, then look at my brother, “not the best I idea to just…go without much explanation, bud,”

     He chuckles nervously.

     “Let’s just go,” Mike says, “We’ve got to find will,”

     The boys nod, and Zach grabs my hand as we continue through the woods.

     “I’m glad you’re here…” Zach mutters, “…I’ve missed you,”

     I smile a little. “I’ve been trying to call, but Paul and Amelia probably are trying to erase me from their history,”

     He sighs, nodding a little.

     We are now deep in the woods, all soaked to the bone. Our flashlights illuminate the rain.

     “Will?” Mike, in the front of the group, calls out, “WILL???”

     “BYERS?!” Lucas, walking next to, yet slightly behind Mike, calls out.

     “I've got your ‘X-Men!’” Dustin calls out, walking next to Eddie, “One-thirty-four!”

     No response. Only silence.

     I sigh, and feel Zach shudder a little.

     We march for a little bit longer.

     “Guys,” Dustin says after a little while, “I really think we should turn back,”

     “Seriously, Dustin,” Lucas says, turning around, “if you want to be a baby, just go home already.

     “I'm just being realistic, Lucas,” Dustin says, defensively.

     “No, you're being a sissy,” Lucas counters.

     “Boys!” I snap, shutting them both up.

     “Henderson has a point, though,” Eddie says, “Will may have run into something dangerous, and now we’re headed in the direction of his last known location?” He shakes his head.

     “Yeah!” Dustin says, “and we’re not armed or anything!”

     “Dustin shut up,” Mike says, stopping.

     “I'm just sayin',” Dustin continues, “does that seem smart to you?!”

     “Shut up!” Mike repeats.

     Dustin goes quiet. 

     Everyone turns to Mike. 

     He's not mad. He's listening. “You guys hear that?” He asks, quietly.

     The boys listen.

     I pause and listen as well. 

     Everyone goes tense as we hear rustling in the foliage around us.

     Mike slowly, cautiously, swings his flashlight around the dark woods. 

     WHOOSH! 

     A shadowed figure darts behind us, making us all jump.

     Both Eddie and Zach hide behind me as we whirl around.

     Our flashlights illuminate something strange.

     It’s a child, about the age of the boys. Their head is shaved close to their head, eyes wild in fear, wearing a Benny's T-shirt.

     The child and Mike stare at each other for a few tense seconds.

     “Holy shit…” Eddie mutters cut off somewhat by another, loud roll of thunder.

Chapter Text

     I finish helping the boys load their bikes into the back of Eddie’s van, and get them situated in a way that they’re all safe and comfortable.

     They’ve all kind of gathered near the front seats, Dustin sitting shotgun as Eddie starts the van and starts to drive.

     The child, who I’ve figured out is a girl, huddles in the back corner of the van, watching us, warily.

     I sit across from her, in the opposite corner. I smile kindly at her.

     Zach sits next to me, also looking at the girl, warily.

     “Hi…” I say, softly, to her, “…we’re not going to hurt you…okay?”

     She looks at me, almost confused. 

     I smile kindly. “My name is Astrid,” I say, “and this is Zach,”

     Zach waves at her, a little.

     She glances at him, and then looks at me. She seems to pause for a second, considering her options. She extends her arm toward me, showing her wrist.

     I lean forward a little, and look at a mark on the inside of her wrist.

     011

     “Eleven?” I ask.

     She nods slightly.

     I furrow my eyebrows, but nod as well. “Well…hello, Eleven,” I say, kindly.

     “So, where are we going, Astrid?” Eddie asks.

     “Back to the trailer,” I say, “we’ll get her some dry clothes there,”

     “Do you even have room in the trailer?” Mike asks, almost like he’s offended by the idea.

     I glare at him. “What’s our other option, Wheeler?” I ask.

     “My house,” he says, “we’ll hide her in my basement, and I have spare clothes that’d fit her better,”

     “You’re not hiding a child in your basement!” I say.

     “It’s better than putting her in a shitty trailer!” He responds.

     “Hey! Watch who’s trailer you call shitty, Wheeler,” Eddie says, raising a finger.

     Mike makes a slight face at Eddie.

     “Guys!” Zach says,  and we all look at him, “Why not ask her?” He gestures to Eleven.

     I look at him, then at her. I sigh. “Okay…” I mutter, “…Eleven?”

     She looks at me. 

     “Would you like to stay with me and Eddie?” I place a hand on my chest, and point toward Eddie, “or do you want to go with Mike?” I point toward Mike.

     She looks at me, looks toward Eddie, looks at Mike, and looks back at me. She raises a hand and points.

     Toward Mike.

     I nod a little. “Ok…” I mutter, “…she’ll go to the Wheelers’ house,”

     “Wait, hold on, what happened to not hiding the child in a basement?” Eddie asks.

     “It’s a pretty nice basement, to be honest,” Dustin says.

     “Not the point, Henderson,” I say, standing up and carefully moving toward the front of the van, “there’s also the questions of who she is, where she came from, why she was in the woods,”

     Eddie nods. “Holy shit,” he mutters, “shit, shit, shit, fucking shit!”

     “Eddie, calm down,” I say, “don’t crash the van,”

     “I’m trying to be calm, but there’s a freaky bald child in my van!” He says, looking at me, briefly, “what if she’s, like…I don’t know, an alien in disguise or some shit? Like…’Body Snatchers’ type shit?”

     Dustin chuckles a little, but pauses. “Wait is…is that even possible?” He asks, looking at me.

     I sigh. “No,” I say, “‘Invasion of the Body Snatchers’ is a work of fiction,”

     “That’s not to say aliens aren’t real,” Eddie counters, “or, she could be like…I don’t fucking know! But I don't like this, Star!”

     I nod a little, then sigh. “Hey, Henderson,” I say, nudging Dustin, “open the glove compartment and grab me a pen and a pad of paper. There should be one of each in there,”

     He nods, and opens the compartment. He hands me a pen and paper. “What are you doing?” He asks.

     “I,” I say, “am writing down my phone numbers, so you guys can contact me if you ever need to,” I write down the trailer number, the general store, the arcade, and Family Video numbers. I also label the different jobs with my hours and days. I then copy the note three times. I tear the notes from the pad, and hand one to each of the boys, including Zach.

     “What are these?” Mike asks.

     “First is the phone number for our trailer,” I say, “Then is for my jobs: the general store, the arcade, and the video store. I also included my hours, so you’ll know where I’d most likely be. If you ever need anything, and I mean anything, call. If you have to call one of my jobs, just ask for me and say is an emergency,”

     “What if it isn’t?” Lucas asks, “or like…not too bad of an emergency?”

     I sigh, and think.

     “We can use codes!” Dustin says, “like…yellow, amber, red,”

     I nod. “That’s what we’ll do,” I say, “depending on how bad it is, use one of those colors,”

     They all nod.

     “Why the hell do you have so many jobs?” Mike asks.

     “To save up for a car and a place to move to that isn’t a trailer,” I say, shrugging, “Eddie and I are going to the used car dealership tomorrow, so I’ll have a car of my own soon,”

     Mike nods.

     “Alright, here we are,” Eddie says.

     “Pull around to the back,” Mike says, “we’ll take her in the back door and down to the basement,”

     Eddie nods. “Rodger that…” he mutters, pulling around the side of the house.

     That’s when I notice a familiar car. “Shit, Eds…” I mutter, staring at my father’s station wagon.

     “Fucking hell…” he mutters, and we see my father get out of the car, glaring at the van.

     “Astrid?” Zach says.

     I look over my shoulder at him. “I’ll distract him,” I say, “You guys get Eleven to the basement,” I gently pat Zach’s shoulder.

     “Should I go with you?” Zach asks.

     “I’ll be fine,” I say, hopping out the back of the van as Eddie slows. I walk up the street, onto the sidewalk, toward my father. ‘This could go really bad,’ I think, ‘just gotta keep him distracted…’ I glance over my shoulder as Eddie rounds the corner toward the back of the house. I look at my father, who is fuming. “Paul,” I say, a bitterness to my voice.

     He doesn’t answer me, and we continue to approach each other.

     “Zachary is fine, just playing around with some f-“ I’m cut off as we reach arm's length with each other, and my father backhands me.

     I stumble to the side, raising a hand to my face, my ears ringing. Tears rise in my eyes, and I try to turn to look at him, but fear grips at my chest. Suddenly, I’m five years old again, being caught with my first pair of fishnet gloves after my grandmother took me Halloween shopping.

     “How dare you?!” My father snaps at me.

     “Father Price!” Karen calls out, in shock, from the front door of her house, walking toward us.

     “Call the police, Karen,” my father says, extending a hand toward her, “this…hooligan tried to kidnap our children,”

     I look at him, and take a deep breath. I grit my teeth, and stand up straight. “For your information,” I say, calmly, balling my shaking fists, “I had been informed where the boys were, and went to make sure they didn’t go missing. We were bringing Mike home first, and were going to take the rest of the boys home as well,”

     My father’s eyes flash in rage. “And…whom, if you don’t mind sharing, informed you where they were?” He hisses.

     “A friend,” I say, briefly glancing at Martha in the back seat of the station wagon, “they knew Zach is my brother, so they called me,”

     He nods slowly, narrowing his eyes. “Do I know this…‘friend’?” He asks, crossing his arms.

     I shake my head. “Unless you’ve met Dustin’s mom,” I say, shrugging.

     He nods slightly. “And…where are the boys now?” He asks.

     I nod toward the house, and look over at the front door, now seeing Mike and Zach standing behind Karen.

     My father also looks, and seems to relax slightly.

     “Zachary!” My mother calls out, relieved, getting out of the car and walking toward the Wheelers’ house.

     Zach exits the house, running up to her, and hugging her. “I’m sorry…” he says, “…I just wanted to help…”

     “You could have chosen a better time to do so,” she says, “you’re soaking wet!”

     “I’m sorry…” he says.

     “Let’s get you home,” she says, leading him to the car, and glancing at me.

     I nod a little.

     Zach also looks at me, and gives me a sly thumbs up.

     I have to hold back a smile. ‘They must have gotten Eleven hidden alright,’ I think. I start to back away, toward where Eddie’s van is.

     “Astrid,” my father says, “I don’t want you or…” he glances at Eddie in the van, and pauses, “…I don’t want either of you anywhere near Zachary, Hannah, or Martha, understand?”

     I pause, and sigh. “You know…they don’t hate me like you do, so…we’ll keep seeing each other, I guess,” I shrug a little.

     He sighs. “It’s bad enough you’ve taken one daughter from us…” he mutters, “and now you’re trying to take not just our son but our other daughters, too…”

     I scoff. “I’m not trying to take anyone, Paul,” I say, “face it, they have free will and can make their own choices,”

     My father’s face sort of tightens with both surprise and anger. He opens his mouth, maybe to reprimand me again, but closes his mouth, decisively, making his teeth clack.

     I smile a little, and turn away from him. I get to Eddie’s van, and get in. I take a shaking breath, and look at my shaking hands. The strike on the side of my face starts to sting, the adrenaline of finally standing up to him wearing off.

     Eddie looks at me. “Astrid…” he mutters, “…holy shit…he fucking hit you? He…holy shit, holy fucking shit…”

     “Just…drive…” I mutter, “…I want to get home…”

     He nods a little, and pulls down the road.

--- 

     “We can’t seriously let them keep her…” Eddie mutters to me, waiting as I grab my things from my locker.

     I sigh. “And the other choice?” I ask, “we take her to the trailer and explain to Wayne why we have a strange child with us?”

     He sighs, running his hands through his hair. “Jesus Christ…” he mutters, “…this is a bad idea, Astrid,”

     “It’s the only idea we have right now, Eds, so…” I shrug a little, putting my books in my messenger bag and closing my locker door.

     “Oh, damn…” Eddie mutters, looking down the hall.

     I lean past him a little, and see Jonathan pinning posters to the bulletin board. I sigh. I quietly walk up to him, and he glances at me. “Here, let me help,” I say, holding a hand out, “I’ll take some, post them up at my jobs,”

     He nods a little. “Thanks…” he mutters.

     “Hear anything yet?” I ask.

     He shakes his head. “We got a weird call last night, fried the phone, but…” he shrugs and tilts his head. His eyes flick to behind me.

     I turn, and see Nancy Wheeler behind me. I take a step back, more toward Jonathan as I accept the small stack of fliers he hands me.

     “Hey,” Nancy says, mainly to Jonathan. She glances at me.

     We both smile awkwardly, but politely, to each other.

     “Oh, hey,” Jonathan says to her.

     “I just…I wanted to say,” Nancy says, “you know, um…I’m sorry about everything,”

     I raise an eyebrow a little. I look behind her, at the group of friends waiting for her.

     Carol, Tommy, Steve and Barb are watching. They’re standing about 20-feet away. Save for Barb, they all look bored and uninterested.

     Barb smiles a little and waves at me a little.

     I wave back, and raise an eyebrow as Steve furrows his eyebrows at me.

     He looks me up and down, almost confused, and tilts his head a little.

     I roll my eyes, scoffing slightly.

     Jonathan looks over at the group with doubt of their sincerity. He glances at me.

     “Everyone’s thinking about you,” Nancy says.

     Jonathan says nothing.

     “It sucks,” Nancy says.

     “Yeah,” Jonathan says, in a “no kidding” tone.

     There’s an awkward silence.

     Then, Nancy says, “I’m sure he’s fine. He’s a smart kid,”

     I look up as the school bell rings.

     “I have to go,” Nancy says, chuckling softly, “Chemistry test,”

     “Yeah,” Jonathan says.

     “Good luck,” Nancy says as she backs away.

     “Thanks,” he says.

     I watch as Nancy joins her friends. 

     Jonathan continues at the bulletin board, ensuring the poster is secured properly. 

     Eddie walks up to me. “We should get to class, babe…” he mutters, tugging my arm a little.

     I nod, and gently grab Jonathan’s shoulder.

     He looks at me, and nods a little.

     I follow Eddie down the hall, toward our first class.

     Just then, the school’s PA system engages.

     “Attention, faculty and students,” the Principal’s voice says, “At eight PM tonight, there will be an assembly on the football field in support of Will Byers and his family,”

     I sigh.

     “Grabbed some posters?” Eddie asks me.

     I nod. “I’ll hang some around, help Jon out…” I say, “Think Wayne would want to hang a few at the power plant?”

     “All are encouraged to attend,” the principal continues on the PA system, “Volunteer sign-ups for search parties are still available in the office,”

     I sigh again. “If it wasn’t for work, I’d sign up…” I mutter.

     Eddie nods. “If it weren’t for the cops, I’d sign up with you,” he says.

     I chuckle a little as we walk into our English class.

--- 

     At work that night, my manager walks up to me as I’m stocking some shelves.

     “Price,” he says, “your brother just called, saying something about ‘code yellow’ at the Wheeler’s house?” He looks very confused.

     My heart jumps to my throat, and I nod. “Gotcha,” I say, “is he still on the line?”

     He nods. “What does he mean?” He asks.

     “Don’t worry about it,” I say, walking to the break room and grabbing the phone that is off the base. “Zach?” I ask, “What’s up?”

     “How quick can you and Eddie get here?” He asks.

     I sigh, and look at the clock. “I…I can ask my manager if I can leave early,” I say, “I’ve only got forty five minutes left. I’ll quickly call Eddie so he can get his ass over to the Wheelers’…”

     “Great,” Zach says, “you’re going to want to hear and see this…”

     I furrow my eyebrows slightly as the line clicks, Zach hanging up on me. I sigh, and dial the number for the trailer. I wait for a minute.

     “Munson residence,” Eddie says.

     “Hi Eddie,” I say, “how quick can you get your ass over to the Wheelers’?”

     He pauses. “Why?” He asks, “what color?”

     “Yellow,” I say, “Zach called, and said we’d want to hear and see something…”

     “Oh, ok…gotcha,” he mutters.

     I sigh. “You’re high, aren’t you…” I mutter.

     “Nah,” he says, “just…woke up from a nap after some English homework. Dickens is boring, what can I say,”

     I chuckle. “Ok, I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt, but if I smell any on you when you get there, you’re in deep shit, mister,” I say.

     He laughs a little. “Yes, ma’am,” he says, “I’ll head over now.”

     “Gotcha, see you there,” I say, hanging up. I leave the break room, and look for my manager. “Hey, do you mind if I clock out early?” I ask, “my brother needs me for something, and needs me to leave now,”

     He nods a little. “I’ll finish your restocking,” he says, “I hope everything is okay,”

     I nod, going back to the break room, clocking out, and grabbing my things. I quickly went out to my car I had parked out back, a black Ford Pinto I had found at the used car dealership.

---

     I arrive at the Wheelers’ house, soon after Eddie it seems since he was still outside, and get out. I quickly walk up to him, and briefly hug him. 

     “So, do we do this the legal way or the fun way?” He asks, looking at the front door, and then toward the back fence.

     I sigh. “I’ll just tell Karen we’re here to pick up Zach…and Dustin, for good measure,” I say, “Henderson seems to like us, so…” I shrug a little.

     He nods, and follows me to the front door.

     I knock, and a moment or two later, Karen answers.

     She looks a little confused, but smiles all the same. “Astrid!” She says, “and…I don’t believe I caught your name, young man,”

     “I’m…Eddie,” he says, somewhat stiffly, “Munson,”

     “My boyfriend,” I say, finding the word weird coming from me, but getting kinda giddy after saying it.

     She smiles a little. “How can I help you?” She asks.

     “Uh…I’m here to pick my brother up,” I say, “take him home,”

     “And, I’m here to get Henderson, take him home,” Eddie says.

     “We figured it’d be better for the boys to not bike home, in light of recent events,” I say, giving a soft smile.

     She nods a little, and glances at my left eye. “Speaking of…how is your eye?” She asks, “That was…quite a surprise,”

     I sigh, and raise a hand to my cheek, and quickly lower it. “Well…I’d be lying if I said it was the first time…” I mutter, “though, luckily, it was few and far between. It’s just a shiner, so…” I shrug.

     She nods. “They’re downstairs,” she says, gesturing to a door, stepping to the side.

     I nod, walking past her, and to the door. I nervously open it, and see a set of stairs heading downstairs. I go down, and see the boys and Eleven sitting in the finished basement.

     Eddie whistles a little. “Nice little game room down here…” he mutters, looking around, waving at the boys.

     They all look at us, and Zach rushes up to me.

     “Astrid!” He says, excitedly, “El has superpowers!”

     I pause. “What?!” I ask.

     “Zach!” Mike says, “we promised we wouldn’t tell anyone!”

     “We can trust Astrid,” Zach says, looking at Mike, “trust me, Mike, she can keep secrets,” he looks at me again, “right?”

     I smile and nod. “Of course, bud,” I say, “but…what the hell do you mean, ‘superpowers’?”

     He grabs my arm, and pulls me over to where Eleven is sitting at the table.

     The first thing I notice is the D&D board on its surface. It’s not game-ready, but there are six miniatures on the board’s surface.

     She glances up at me, and gives a brief smile.

     I smile back.

     El’s focus returns to the figures.

     “What’s the weirdo doing?” Lucas asks.

     I look over my shoulder and shush him.

     El places the palms of her hands on the board. She closes her eyes. 

     Mike, Dustin and Lucas move closer.

     “El?” Mike asks.

     After a moment, El opens her eyes. She reaches down and picks up the wizard miniature. She holds it close to her face, inspecting it. “Will,” she says.

     I raise an eyebrow, and look at Zach.

     He nods a little.

     “Superpowers,” Dustin says, in awe.

     Lucas rolls his eyes. 

     Mike sits down in the chair next to El. “Did you see him?” Mike asks her, “On Mirkwood? Do you know where he is?”

     I sit across from Mike. 

     Using her arm, El sweeps the board clear of the miniatures.

     They fall to the floor. 

     She flips the board upside down.

     Its surface is black. 

     I furrow my eyebrows.

     El takes the Wizard, representing Will, and puts it in the center of the upside down board.

     “I don’t understand,” Mike says, looking at the board, then at El, then at me.

     “Hiding,” El says.

     “Will is hiding?” I ask.

     El nods.

     “From the bad men?” Zach asks.

     El shakes her head.

     “Then from who?” Mike asks.

     El places a different miniature on the board, a multi-headed creature that makes a chill run up my spine.

     The Demogorgon.

---

     I sigh, driving through the woods after dropping Zach off at my old home. I wanted to check in on Joyce, make sure everything is okay. I bite the inside of my cheek a little as I pull down the driveway to her house. I furrow my eyebrows, seeing the lights in the house flickering. I park, turn the car off, and quickly go up to the door. I knock quickly, then open the unlocked door. “Joyce, is everything okay?” I ask, and see her standing, holding a phone to her ear.

     She looks at me, a look of panic and desperation on her face. She’s sobbing. “Will!” She says into the phone, nodding rapidly at me, “Yes it’s me. It’s me,”

     Electricity in the house is humming, making everything flicker. Crackling and buzzing fills the house, making the hair on the back of my neck stand on end. 

     I quickly walk up to Joyce, looking around. “Joyce, what's going on?” I ask, my voice wavering a little, looking at the lights going crazy. I gently grab Joyce’s arm.

     She ignores me. “Where are you?” She asks into the phone, “Where are you? Just talk to me-“

     The lights get brighter, then dim.

     Suddenly, bolts of electric current shoot out of the receiver, shocking Joyce, both literally and figuratively. 

     She screams, making me jump, and drops the receiver. “Oh, no, no, no!” She cries out, bending down and picking up the phone. 

     It’s dead. The receiver had been blackened by the electrical current.

     “No, no, no!” Joyce sobs as I kneel with her, gently holding her. In a momentary fit of rage Joyce picks up the phone and throws it to the ground. She crumbles into my arms, taking a moment, then screams, no holding back anymore. “NO!” She screams, between sobbing.

     I hold her, hugging her, tears filling my eyes as well.

     The house has gone silent.

     As I hold Joyce, something catches my eye.

     The lights above us flicker. Then go off. They flicker, twice. Then stay on.

     I furrow my eyebrows. “Joyce…” I mutter, watching this pattern continue down the hall.

     She takes a shaking breath, looking at me. “Huh?…”

     I gently stand her up, and we look at each other. 

     We then walk down the hall heading to Jonathan’s room. The lights flicker again.

     “Jonathan!” Joyce calls out.

     No answer.

     Joyce stops, looking up at the lights. “What?” She mutters.

     “What is it, Joyce?” I ask.

     “The lights…it’s like a pattern…” she mutters, pointing up.

     I look up, watching the lights.

     Rapidly, flicking on, then off, then steady on, then steady off. 

     “Like morse code,” I mutter, “Uh…it’s nonsense, though. It’s either ‘I-M’ or ‘E-T’,”

     Joyce looks at me. “How the hell…” she mutters, then shakes her head, “I’m going to stop questioning how you know things…”

     I chuckle. “Good idea…” I mutter.

     There’s still an eerie air about the house, and, unsure of what exactly is happening, we stay close to the wall as we make our way to Jonathan’s room.

     A blast of music makes Joyce and I gasp. 

     The music is coming from Will’s bedroom. 

     “That’s Will’s favorite song…” Joyce mutters.

     It’s ”Should I Stay or Should I go” by The Clash.

     The door is closed, but through the cracks, we can see lights flickering. We can hear electricity buzzing with each flicker. The music continues. It’s so loud, my ears start to ring a little.

     Joyce is frightened, clinging onto my arm, sobbing.

     I can’t help but feel like I, too, am in danger, but I try to keep it together.

     We mustered the courage and, together, approached the door. 

     She reaches forward, turns the knob, and opens the door.

     We slowly walk into the room.

     “Will?” Joyce whispers.

     There’s a boombox on Will’s desk. A Desk lamp lights the immediate area. There’s a mix tape playing ON the boombox. The red LEDs of the boom box’s VU meter are flashing in time with the music.

     Joyce looks at me, then over to a bedside table. 

     A lamp is on. It’s flickering intermittently. 

     Joyce lets go of my arm, approaches the lamp.

     I follow her, not wanting to let go of her.

     “Will?” She asks, sobbing, “Is that you?”

     With the question, there seems to be some kind of an answer: the light brightens, brighter than I’ve ever seen a light be, brighter than it should ever be. The whole room is illuminated, almost to a blinding extent.

     I have to squint against the brightness of the lamp.

     Then, with a fizzle everything stops. The light goes out. The music stops. The room is quiet. 

     Joyce looks at me, mortified and confused, and I feel the same way.

     Then, something catches my eye on the wall by the lamp, behind Joyce now. The wall beside the lamp seems to be stretching out toward us, like rubber.

     “What the fuck?!” I yelp, making Joyce turn.

     All we can do is watch in horror as a face, then hands, trying to reach out and break through the wall.

     A growl rumbles from inside the wall, from whatever is trying to get through the wall to us.

     Joyce and I scream, and she pulls my arm as she runs out of the room.

     I follow her, as she dashes out of the front door, never looking back. 

     She jumps in her car, and I get into the passenger seat.

     “What the fuck?!” I say, panicking, “What the fuck?! What the actual fuck?!”

     Joyce fumbles with the keys, then the car starts.

     I look from her, and then at the house. I gasp as the lights turn back on in the house. “Joyce…” I say quietly.

     Joyce looks at me. “What?” She asks, then looks up at the house, at Will’s bedroom. 

     I can see through the window that the lights are flickering.

     “Will…” Joyce mutters.

     I look at her. I can tell she’s unsure what to do.

     She sighs. “Astrid…go home, okay?” She mutters, “Just…be safe. I’ll be okay…”

     I sigh softly, and nod as she kills the engine, and  takes a deep breath as she gets out of the car. I get out of the car as well, and slowly back toward my own car, watching Joyce enter her house, the lights in Will’s room still flickering.

Chapter Text

Chapter Text

I sigh softly, leaning against Eddie as we watch the news on the TV in his room. We're sitting on the end of his bed, holding hands.

"Byers' body was found in the water of this quarry by state police earlier this evening," the Newscaster says, "It was discovered by state trooper David O'Bannon, just after dark. The state police are mounting an investigation to determine Byers' cause of death, but an initial inquiry..."

"Jesus Christ..." Eddie says, squeezing my hand a little, fingers laced between mine.

I sigh, wiping the tears from my eyes. I nuzzle into his shoulder, closing my eyes. "I can't even imagine what Joyce is going through right now..." I mutter.

He sighs, nodding, leaning his head on mine. "At least...the boys are home alright..." he mutters, "...you'd be crushed if Zach ended up like that, I know that for damn sure..." He grabs my hand with both of his, and turns to kiss my head.

I sigh, leaning more into him. "When will this shit end...?" I mutter.

•••

I peek around the corner of the doorway to the living room, where Mommy and Daddy are watching the news, hearing about Zach's friend. 

Tears drip from my eyes, and plop to the hardwood, and I wipe them on Oliver's head.

"It's not fair..." I mutter.

"Hannah!" Martha hisses from behind me, "You should be in bed. What are you doing down here?" She crouches in front of me. She's wearing a pair of pink pajamas with flowers on them.

I bury my face in Oliver's head, hugging him tightly. "I miss Astrid..." I mumble, tears leaking from my eyes.

She tilts her head. "Huh?" She says, "What was that, honey?"

"I miss Astrid!" I say, louder, starting to sob a little, stomping my feet, "It's not fair!"

She sighs, her shoulders sinking a little. "It can't be helped, Hannah..." she mutters, glancing at the doorway.

I shake my head. "But it's not fair!" I cried again, "He was good, right?" I look down at the little, clay cross on a string around my neck. 

Mommy had helped me make it at church, saying that God will always protect me if I'm good. 

"Mommy said...if you're good...God will always protect you," I say, sadly, grabbing the cross, "but...he was good, right? He was one of Zach's friends...so he's gotta be good, right?" I look up at Martha, hopefully.

Martha sighs. "I'm sure he's safe with the Lord, Han..." she mutters, gently touching the side of my face, the middle two fingers of her hand taped together. She also has some bandaging on her face, on her cheek, and a dark spot under her eye.

"But...if he was good, why did he die?" I ask, starting to cry more, "If God is supposed to protect us...why not Will?"

Martha sighs, and then looks up, scared. She gently grabs me, standing up, and holds me in front of her. She gently grips both of my shoulders.

"Because, Hannah June..." Daddy says, standing at the doorway, his voice so calm it scares me, "...William wasn't good. He was one of the corrupt youth playing that...devil game your...sister and brother are so infatuated with. This," he gestures to the TV, "is his punishment,"

I frown, tears rising in my eyes again. "But...it's not fair!" I say again.

"Life rarely is, child," he says, simply, "Now, you both get to bed. Don't forget your prayers,"

"Come on, Hannah..." Martha says, gently, not looking at Daddy, "...let's get you back in bed," She starts to pull me toward the stairs, but I pull out of her grip.

"Maybe God is the bad one!" I say, angrily, to Daddy, tears streaming down my face.

His eyes open a little wider, looking angry. "What did you say?" He hisses.

"She didn't mean it, Father!" Martha says, scared, "She's just a child, please-" but she stops, wincing, when Daddy raises his hand.

"Let her explain herself," he says, his voice cold and dangerous.

I take a deep breath, shaking a little, but thinking of when Eddie yelled at him. 'Be brave, like Eddie,' I tell myself. "If..." I say, then take a deep breath, "if God lets a kid like him die, just for playing a game, maybe he's the bad one,"

Daddy takes a step toward me, but I stay in place.

"Paul, please..." Mommy says, quietly, scared.

Daddy grabs my mouth, harshly, covering it with his hand, and bends down so his face is inches away from mine. "You watch your tongue, Hannah June," he says, a scary tone in his voice, "The Lord is never wrong. He is the highest authority, the greatest good. You'll learn that in time..." His grip on my face tightens as he speaks, making it hurt.

As he squeezes, I feel something move in my mouth.

"Amelia," Daddy says, letting go of me, standing up, and turning to look at Mommy, "Hannah will not be going to daycare tomorrow. She will be coming to the church with me, to learn never to talk ill of the Lord," he looks at me. "For now, get to bed," he says, sternly.

I grit my teeth, and nod.

Martha grabs my shoulder, and leads me upstairs.

Once we're up in the hall, I move my tongue around in my mouth to find that a tooth is loose. I wiggle it more, and it falls out. "Oh!" I mutter, and look at Martha. "Martha..." I say, mumbling over the blood and tooth in my mouth.

"Yes, Hannah?" She asks, quietly, her voice shaking a little.

"Toof..." I mumble.

"Huh?" She says.

I take her into the bathroom, step up onto my stool, and spit the tooth out in the sink. I look at her, smiling a little, but in a sad way. "It fell out when Daddy was holding my face..." I mutter.

She sighs a little, and fills a cup with water. "Rinse your mouth..." she mutters, handing the cup to me.

I nod, rinsing my mouth as she washes the tooth. "Should I put it under my pillow?" I ask, but only trying to make Martha feel better.

She shrugs. "Did he hurt you?" She asks, turning to me, inspecting my mouth.

I shake my head a little. "I don't think so..." I mutter.

She sighs. "His ring cut your face..." she mutters, grabbing one of my colorful band aids and putting it on my cheek.

I frown a little. "I don't wanna go to church tomorrow..." I mutter, rubbing the bandage, hugging Oliver tighter, "...I wanna see Astrid...I miss her..."

She sighs softly, and hugs me gently. "Get some rest, Hannah," she mutters, then hands me my tooth, "put this under your pillow, maybe the Tooth Fairy will leave something for you tomorrow," she smiles softly, and gently caresses my cheek.

I nod, and she leads me to my room.

"Put your tooth under your pillow, and then we'll pray, okay?" Martha says to me.

I nod, and put the pillow under my pillow. I then kneel by my bed, placing Oliver on the bed. I hold my hands together in front of my chest, and bow my head.

Martha does the same, kneeling next to me. "Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep," she says, "Please angels watch me through the night, and keep me safe till morning light. Amen,"

I repeat the words in my head, but I don't feel it in my heart.

Martha stands up, and tucks me into bed, then kisses my forehead. "I'm sure Astrid misses you as well, honey..." she mutters softly to me, tears filling her eyes, "...goodnight,"

I nod, watching her as she switches off my light, the stars of my night light projecting across the ceiling and walls. I turn to look at Oliver. "I don't wanna go to church tomorrow, Oliver..." I mutter to him, "...I wanna see Astrid..."

The plush otter that Astrid gave me for my birthday stares back at me with his large, shining, plastic eyes.

"Daddy is scary..." I mutter, tears welling up in my eyes, "...especially when he hurts Martha...and now he's angry at Zach, too...maybe God isn't as good as he says. He's a bad one, because daddy is bad too, but doesn't get punished for it..."

Oliver just stares at me.

I nod. "It'd decided, then," I say, "I'm gonna go to Astrid and Eddie and live with them!" I turn over again, watching the bottom of my door, waiting for the light to go out.

After a while, it does, and I quietly slip out of bed. I change out of my pajamas, into jeans, a Garfield shirt, and a sweatshirt. I also tie up my hair into pigtails. I grab my backpack and put a box of bandages in it, my water bottle from daycare, the last of my Easter candy, some coloring books and crayons, a sweater, and my pjs into the bag, then put on my shoes. I put on the bag, grab a flashlight, and grab Oliver, hugging him to my chest. "Let's go, Oliver..." I mutter to him, going to my door. I slowly open it, and listen.

The hallway is silent.

I quietly creep into the hallway, closing my door behind me, and quietly move down the hall.

"...too harsh on her, Paul," Mommy's voice whispers from her and Daddy's room, "she's just a child!"

"She's already questioning not just my authority, but the Lord himself!" Daddy responds, "I never should have let your mother continue to influence them the way she did...now we'll lose all of our children to Lucifer, if we're not careful,"

"Please, Paul, be kind to them," Mommy says, "Zachary just lost one of his friends, and now Hannah has to wrap her brain around someone dying so young. She's five, for pity's sake! Martha is doing her best to take care of the both of them, along with herself, keeping up with the tasks Astrid-"

There's a solid thud, and then someone falls to the ground.

I gasp, cover my mouth, and freeze.

There's soft sobbing.

"Never...speak that whore's name to me again," Daddy says, angrily.

With tears in my eyes, I continue down the hall, and down the stairs. I go to the front door, unlock it, and open it. I quietly step out onto the porch, and close the door behind me.

The night is cool and quiet, a slight breeze rustling the leaves of the trees.

"Ok, Oliver..." I mutter, hugging my friend, "let's go find Astrid,"

•••

I've been walking for a long time, and I'm now near the woods.

I hug Oliver to my chest, looking around. "I dunno where we are, Oliver..." I whimper, tears rising in my eyes, shining my flashlight around.

We're on a long, dark road, and even the street lights had stopped showing up. 

It's late enough at night that no cars have passed us.

"I wish we could call her..." I mutter.

A rustling in the bushes near me makes me jump, and I shine my flashlight at it.

Something moves, making me yelp and back away from it.

Something growls loudly, and it stands up. It's a lot taller than I thought it would be.

I scream a little and start to run, turning, running through the trees as the thing crashes through the forest behind me.

Ahead of me, a large tree catches my attention. It has a hole at the base of it, big enough to hide in.

I get to it, slide in the leaves, and scamper into the hollow. I huddle into the back of the hole, turning the flashlight off, and watching out of the tree.

Something large stalks by the hole, growling. A stale, gross smell follows it, making me scrunch my nose.

I scoot further into the hole, then the ground drops suddenly under me, like a river bank or something. I yelp as I tumble backwards, then hit my head as I fall flat on my back. I curl up, holding my head, groaning a little. "Owie..." I mumble, then turn myself over, so I'm kneeling. I open my eyes and look around.

It looks like the forest I was just in, but with vines everywhere, little white things floating around as well. It smells weird, like a house that hasn't been cleaned, or like the Church's basement.

I turn on my flashlight, and scan around. I shakily get to my feet. "Wha...?" I mutter.

"Hey!" Someone hisses nearby, making me jump.

I turn around, and, in my flashlight, I see someone.

Zach's friend from the TV is standing near a tree, looking at me, confused.

I gasp. "You are good!" I cheer, but he shushes me.

"Come here," he says, waving for me to come closer.

I nod, and tromp through the roots and things to get to him. "You're ok!" I say, quietly, "I knew you were good! Daddy said you weren't, but I knew you were!"

He looks at me, confused. "Who are you?" He asks, "how do you know me?"

"I'm Hannah," I say, "You're Will. You're friends with Zach,"

He looks surprised. "You...you're Zach's little sister, right?" He asks.

I nod. "Uh-huh!" I say, happily, but my smile drops as I hear something exit the tree I fell through.

"Shit..." he hisses, grabbing me, "come with me. I know a safe place, ok?"

I nod, and follow him into the woods.

•••

    I take a deep breath, closing my locker.

"Police have been talking to Wheeler and them..." Eddie says to me, "...think Holland is missing, too?"

I shrug, and turn, leaning my back against my locker.

"Hey..." he says, gently nudging me, "...you okay?"

I shrug again. "I just...have a weird feeling," I mutter, "kinda...foreboding, I guess,"

He looks confused, but nods.

The tone for the intercom sounds.

"Astrid Price, please report to the principal's office," one of the secretaries says, "Astrid Price, to the principal's office,"

I look up, confused, and look at Eddie.

He looks at me. "Let me...walk you there," he mutters.

I nod, and we start to the front of the building.

As we get to the front office, I hear voices arguing, and chill goes up my spine.

"...for too long!" My father's voice echoes through the hall, "Ask her about the others, as well, Hopper, just to be safe,"

"I understand you're upset, Father Price-" Hopper says, sounding annoyed, but my father interrupts him.

"Upset?! Chief Hopper, I am far beyond upset!" My father snaps at him, then he sees me. His eyes flare in anger. "You..." he growls, and looks at Eddie as well, and points toward us, "the both of them, Hopper. I'm sure it was the both of them, working together. A regular Bonnie and Clyde,"

"What...what's going on?" I ask, looking at my mother, standing behind my father.

She doesn't look at me, but I can see that she has a black eye.

Martha, bandaged up as well, looking distraught, looks at me, pleadingly. She's holding hands with Zach.

Zach looks confused, and looks at me.

Hopper sighs, and walks toward me, looking at another officer, nodding toward us. "Put your books down, hands behind your back," he says to me.

Callahan walks up to Eddie, turning him.

"Woah!" Eddie says, voice cracking, squirming as Callahan puts handcuffs on him, "What'd we do?!"

I look at Hopper, and see him holding handcuffs as well. I furrow my eyebrows, but set my books down on the floor, turning my back to him, hands behind me.

"Astrid Joan Price," Hopper says, "Edward Munson, you're both under arrest for the suspected abduction of Hannah June Price,"

My mouth goes dry. "Hannah?" I mutter, the name barely a whisper. My stomach churns, starting to feel sick.

As he states the rest of the Miranda Rights, he pulls me toward the front doors. "You have the right to remain silent..."

"Wait!" Eddie says, voice shaking in fear, starting to thrash against Callahan, "Wait, there's been some kind of mistake! We'd never hurt Hannah!"

Students start to gather, gawping at the spectacle.

Nancy, Steve, and their friends watch. 

I can see an entertained look on Tommy and Carol's faces.

Nancy and Steve, on the other hand, look confused, or in denial.

Jonathan is also watching, a more confused look on his face.

I start to thrash against Hopper as well, tears of fear and anger rising in my eyes. "Let us go!" I cry, "please!" I look at my father.

He's just barely smiling, a smug look on his face. 'I finally got you' it seems to say. 

My heart sinks, then a spark of rage starts and catches inside my chest, blazing into an inferno that has been building for years. 

I grit my teeth, and continue to thrash with all my might, tears spilling down my cheeks. 

"YOU SON OF A BITCH!" I scream at my father, "WHAT DID YOU DO TO HER?! WHERE'S HANNAH, YOU ASSHOLE!? WHERE IS MY BABY SISTER?!"

•••

Hopper sits me down in his truck, and closes the door.

I start to kick at the windows, scream profanities as I sob, thrash against my handcuffs, everything I can.

He gets into the driver's side, and waits until my family's car is gone. "Astrid, calm down, please," he says, kindly, but sternly, "Astrid, lis-listen to me-" he raises his voice a little, and tries to grab my shoulders to stop me from thrashing.

"LET GO OF ME, YOU FUCKING PIG!" I snap at him, sobbing, trying to kick him or bite his hand.

"You're not under arrest!" He says, loudly, grabbing me, "Astrid, do you hear me!? You and Munson are not under arrest!"

I stop thrashing, breathing heavily, looking at him. "H-huh?..." I mutter, my voice quivering.

"I just told your dad that so he'd get off of my back," he says, lowering his voice and softening his tone, "It was all a show to get him to calm down about claiming you abducted your little sister. I still need to take you to the station, ask you some questions, but...neither of you are in trouble, okay? I'll even question you together, alright? Just...take a few breaths, ok?"

I take a deep, shaking breath, wiping my eyes on my shoulders, nodding.

He starts the truck, and starts to drive.

When we get to the station, he and Callahan lead Eddie and I into his office, and then they take our cuffs off.

I immediately hug Eddie and start to sob again.

Eddie hugs me tightly, and rubs the back of my head. He looks at Hopper. "What the hell is going on, Chief Hopper?" He asks, his voice shaking.

Hopper sits at his desk, and takes a deep breath. "Just...sit down, and I'll tell you everything I know," he says, "Then...I gotta ask you a few questions, okay?"

I nod, and Eddie and I sit in the chairs Joyce had sat in when Will had gone missing, and I cling onto both of Eddie's hands. "What happened to Hannah?" I ask, my voice wavering.

He sighs. "We got a call this morning from your father," he says, putting his glasses on, looking down at the report on his desk, picking it up to read it, "he said that Hannah wasn't in her bed this morning, and the front door was unlocked. Some things were missing from her room, too, but...no sign of forced entry, burglary, nothing,"

I furrow my eyebrows. "What was missing?" I ask.

"Her backpack, some clothes, some...small stuff," he says, "Martha was the one who found her room empty. Apparently Hannah had lost her first tooth last night, and Martha was going into the room early in the morning to exchange it for money, the normal Tooth Fairy thing. I asked if Hannah had seemed upset last night, or if she could have just...ran away, but your father was adamant that you must have had something to do with it,"

I shake my head. "Most of the night, Eddie and I were looking for Zach and his friends, then returning them all home," I say, "then...we watched the news about Will,"

He nods. "I...I had a chance to question your sister, Martha," he says, "before we had to call you to the office...she said that Hannah was upset last night. Said she had overheard the news report, and...said it wasn't fair. That she missed you," he reaches down, and grabs something, placing it on the desk. "We found this in the woods, heading toward your trailer park, while we were looking for her," he says.

I stare at the plush otter that I had bought Hannah for her birthday, and take a deep breath, almost breaking back down into sobs.

"Astrid..." Hopper says, kindly, "...tell me something, and be honest...does your father hurt you and your siblings?"

I take a deep breath, and shakily nod. "He'd make me kneel on rice..." I mutter, "...for an average of 30 Hail Marys, depending on the offense. He'd strike my hands with a ruler, grip my wrist to the point of leaving bruises, strike me if I stepped out of line...I'm sure with me no longer being there to take the brunt of it, it trickled down to Martha and Zach...I never thought..."

He sighs and nods. "Martha said that...what loosened the tooth from Hannah's mouth was Paul gripping her jaw..." he says, taking out a small ziplock baggie and placing it on the desk as well.

It has a small, white, tooth in it.

I take a deep, shaking breath.

"Martha said that what had ticked him off so much was Hannah saying that...if God let Will die because of playing Dungeons and Dragons, that maybe God isn't good after all," Hopper chuckles a little, shaking his head.

I chuckle a little, but it turns into sobs.

Eddie grabs me, holding me close. "Do you have any idea where she could have gone?" He asks.

"Unfortunately...no," Hopper says, "but...from where this guy was found in relation to her house...I'd say she was trying to get to you two,"

I start to sob a little harder.

Eddie rubs my back a little. "Jesus Christ..." he mutters, "...she's only five years old. She...she can't have gone far..."

Hopper nods. "We'll keep looking for her, Astrid," he says, rounding his desk, kneeling in front of me, and gently reaching forward and placing a hand on my shoulder, "The State may now have Will's case, but...this is new, so I'll focus on finding Hannah,"

I nod. "Thank you, Hopper..." I mutter, "I...I trust you..."

He nods, sighing softly. "I'll drive you two home..." he mutters, "...and...you can keep these," he pats Oliver, and the baggie with the tooth.

I smile, sadly, and grab the stuffed animal as I stand.

•••

    Later that night, I pull up to Joyce's house, just needing to talk to someone. I walk up to the front door, and knock.

The door swings open a little, as if it were ajar.

I pause, and push it open a little. "Joyce?" I ask, poking my head into the house. I gasp a little, looking at all of the Christmas lights strung up everywhere in the house. "What the hell...?" I whisper, looking at the array of letters painted on the wall under different lights.

"Astrid?" Joyce says, walking in from the hall, "What...what's going on? You've been crying, oh, honey..." she doesn't look much better than I feel.

I sigh. "Hannah is missing..." I mutter, tears welling up in my eyes.

She sighs, and grabs my arm. "Maybe...maybe if I get through to Will, he knows where she is?" She says, nodding.

I sigh. "Joyce...he's gone," I say, "We can't talk to him,"

"N-n-no I can!" She says, sternly, "look, come on," she grabs me and tows me to Will's room.

I follow her, and look around at the lights all around. "What's with the lights, Joyce?" I ask.

"It's how he talks to me..." she says.

I look at her, and furrow my eyebrows. "What?" I mutter.

"Watch," she says. Joyce sits at the desk in the room and turns on Will's stereo.

Silence. Nothing but static.

"Come on!" Joyce says, leaning against the desk, staring at the radio as the static grows, "Come on! Talk to me! I know you're here!"

Lights in the room flicker, and the static builds more.

I look around, amazed, and also a little terrified. I grab another chair and sit down at the desk.

"Mom?" A faint voice comes through the radio.

I stare at the device, and look at Joyce.

She looks at me, smiling a little, almost relieved that I can hear it so she now knows she's not crazy. "Will?" She says, turning back to it.

"Mom?" Will's voice says, getting clearer, "Mom," 

A buzzing starts within the house itself, making my ears ring.

The Christmas lights start flickering with the buzzing electricity. 

"Will!" Joyce almost sobs.

"Please..." Will whimpers. 

"Will!" Joyce says, "I'm here! I'm here! Oh, God,"

I stand up as the buzzing crescendos, sending a chill down my spine. "Joyce..." I say, grabbing her shoulder.

"Mom...Mom, it's coming!" Will whimpers.

"We need to go, Will!" A smaller, fainter voice says, somewhat distant.

My heart rockets into my throat, and I look at the radio. "Hannah?" I mutter.

"Tell me where you are!" Joyce says "How do I get to you?"

I lean forward. "Will, are you alone?" I ask, "is there someone with you, that's not the monster?"

Joyce looks at me, confused at first, then a look of devastated realization.

"It's like home, but it's so dark," Will says, "It's so dark and empty. And it's cold! B-but...I'm not alone. Zach's sister is here,"

I sigh, laughing a little in relief, but still feeling horrified. "Hannah?" I say, leaning more toward the radio, "Hannah, can you hear me, honey? It's Astrid,"

There's a pause.

Just static.

"Astrid?" Hannah's voice rings out.

I smile, tears rising in my eyes. "Yeah, it's me, bud," I say, sitting down as Joyce stands up, "Listen, I swear, we're going to find you and Will okay? But you need to hide now, okay?"

"Ok, Astrid," Hannah says, almost sounding like she's sobbing, "We-we'll hide,"

"Good," I say, "good girl. Stay close to Will, okay, and we'll find you,"

"We need to go, Hannah!" Will's voice rings out.

"Wait!" Hannah says, "I nee-"

The energy flares, making my ears ring.

Then silence.

Static.

I feel numb. I'm staring at the radio, almost trying to convince myself that it was just a dream. 

Did I really just talk to my missing sister and Joyce's dead son through the radio? If she's with him, is she dead too? 

My body shakes with sobs that tear through my throat. Tears spill down my face, and I raise my hands to my head, gripping at my hair. I fall from the chair, kneeling on the ground, sobbing until my stomach aches.

That's when I feel someone grab my shoulder, but it's an unfamiliar hand.

I throw my fist out toward the person, and feel it make contact with their jaw.

"Ah, Jesus!" The man says, stumbling away from me.

"Astrid!" Joyce says, rushing up to me, "it's ok! You're safe, honey, you're safe..." she grabs and hugs me.

I nod a little, hugging her back, sobbing into her shoulder until the sobs cease. I look up at the man, who's staring at me, holding his jaw.

He's about Joyce's age, maybe a little older, with somewhat messy steel gray hair, wearing dark pants, a blue shirt, and brown leather jacket.

"Astrid..." Joyce says, gently, "...this is Lonnie,"

I nod a little. "I'll hold off the apologies, then..." I mutter softly, making Joyce chuckle.

Lonnie rolls his eyes. "Need me to call anyone to come get her?" He asks.

"She drove herself," Joyce says, "the black car out front is hers,"

"She shouldn't be driving in the state she's in," Lonnie says.

Joyce looks at me. "Want me to get you something to drink?" She asks, softly, "warm milk? Something to calm you down?"

I take a deep breath, wiping my eyes. "I...I think...I just want to get home..." I mutter, "Eddie will be worried about me..."

She nods, and hugs me again, kissing my head. "We'll find them..." she mutters, "I promise,"

I nod, hugging her back.

•••

When I get back to the trailer, I place my back against the door, and sink to the ground. I feel like I want to cry again, but I must have run out of tears. I just feel empty. I hug my knees to my chest and close my eyes, leaning my head back against the door.

Someone sits in front of me, and places their hands on my knees.

I open my eyes, and look at Eddie.

He smiles softly.

I smile softly back. 

"Did...Joyce help at all?" He asks.

I sigh and shrug. "She..." I mutter, "...she's...overwhelmed, so...I also may have punched her ex in the jaw by accident, so..."

He laughs a little, and scoots a little so he's sitting kind of next to me, and hugs me. "Want me to make some food?" He mutters, resting his forehead on mine.

I sigh, and shrug. "I...I don't..." I mutter.

He nods a little. "Ok..." he says, softly, "...want to go to sleep? You must be exhausted..."

"I..." I mutter, not sure what I want, or what to do, "...I..." tears rise in my eyes again, leaking down my face. I take a deep, shaking breath, and start to sob again as I let the breath out.

"Oh, baby girl..." Eddie mutters, pulling me closer, holding me close, "...that's it...let it out..."

I bury my face in his shoulder, gripping his shirt, just sobbing like a child. I sob until it hurts, until I feel like I may pass out, still gripping onto Eddie for dear life.

He gently rubs the back of my head, holding me close. 

After a bit, the sobbing winds down to just shaky breathing, and I grit my teeth. "I...I'm...sorry..." I mutter.

"What are you apologizing for, babe?" He asks, softly, "so much shit has happened recently, I'm surprised that you lasted this long,"

I take a deep breath. "I...I don't like...people seeing me cry..." I mutter, "...feels like...they'll think they need to help...I...I don't want to be a burden on anyone...or to think I'm weak...a damsel in distress..."

He sighs, and hugs me closer. "You're not a burden..." he mutters, "...and you're sure as hell not weak. You're the strongest goddamn person I know..."

I smile a little, and look up at him.

He's just sort of staring forward, at the door. Tears glisten in his eyes. He looks down at me, and smiles softly.

I smile a little more, and sit up a little, so I'm sitting in his lap. I gently place my hands on either side of his face.

He looks a little surprised, his eyes flicking back and forth, looking at my eyes. "Wha-" he starts.

But before he can finish, I pull him toward me and kiss him. I close my eyes, wrapping my arms around his shoulders as he places his hands on my waist. I kiss until I need to take a breath, and gasp as I rest my forehead on his.

"Holy shit..." he gasps, laughing a little, "...Astrid..."

"I...I love you...Eddie," I say, "...and I'm so glad that you're here, because if you weren't I would have absolutely lost my fucking mind...you've been right by me through this whole shit show, and I'm so glad that you were,"

He looks astonished, and smiles a little wider. "I...I love you, too..." he mutters, "...there's nowhere I'd rather be than right next to you..."

I smile and kiss him again. I move my hands to grip his hair, and shift my hips a little.

He grips my hips a little tighter, and moves with me. He pulls out of the kiss this time, taking deep breaths. "Fuck..." he mutters, then groans a little. "Astrid..." he mutters.

I bite my lip a little, smiling softly. "Yeah...?" I say, softly.

He smiles softly, a mischievous kind of glitter in his eyes. He wraps his arms around my waist and starts to stand up, picking me up.

I gasp a little, wrapping my legs around his waist, my arms around his shoulders. I laugh slightly.

He chuckles. "You're a lot lighter than I thought you'd be..." he mutters.

I smile, nuzzling into his neck.

He carries me to the bedroom, and places me on the bed. He quickly turns and closes the door.

Chapter Text

    "What was Will saying?" Mike says, pacing around in his basement.

    "Like home..." Dustin says, "Like home...but dark?"

    "And empty," Lucas says.

    I sniff, my arms crossed, staring off into space, barely listening to what they're talking about.

    El looks at me, furrowing her eyebrows.

    "Empty and cold," Mike continues, "Wait, did he say cold?"

    "I don't know," Lucas says, "The stupid radio kept going in and out,"

    Dustin sighs. "It's like riddles in the dark..." he mutters.

    Tears rise in my eyes, and I grit my teeth. I wipe one of my cheeks on my shoulder, and take a deep breath, trying not to let the hopeless anger bubbling in my stomach boil over.

    "Like home," Lucas says, "Like his house?"

    "Or maybe like Hawkins," Dustin says.

    "Upside down," El says.

    I look at her.

    "What'd she say?" Dustin asks.

    "Upside down," Mike repeats.

    "What?" Lucas asks.

    I furrow my eyebrows. 

    "Upside down," Mike says again, "When El showed us where Will was, she flipped the board over, remember? Upside down. Dark. Empty,"

    Dustin and Lucas look at each other, then they each look at me. 

    "Do you understand what he's talking about?" Dustin asks.

    "No," Lucas says.

    Mike sighs and looks at me. "Zach, go call Astrid and Eddie," he says, "We need to tell them about this. This could be how we find Will!"

    I grit my teeth, tears rising in my eyes. I stand up. "Screw that..." I mutter, walking toward the stairs.

    They all look at me.

    "What?" Mike says, "Zach? Zach, wait!"

    "No, screw this Mike!" I snap at him, pushing him away as he tries to grab my arm, "This isn't fun anymore! It's not made up, not like the campaign!"

    "I know that!" Mike says, "We're trying to find Will-"

    "It's not just Will missing now," I snapped at him, "you get that right?!" I take a deep shaking breath, and wipe my eyes.

    "What are you talking about?" He asks.

    "We heard Hannah with him..." Dustin says, "So...she's also Upside Down?"

    "Jesus Christ..." Lucas says, "...that's why you were called to the principal's office?"

    I take a deep breath and nod. "They think Astrid and Eddie did it..." I mutter, "but, they'd never do something like that! Dad just...he just hates Astrid..."

    "Wait...Hannah's also missing?" Mike asks, "We could also find her, like how we'll find Will! Please, Zach..."

    I scrunch my nose, gritting my teeth. I scoff a little. "Play hero if you want, Mike," I say, "I'm not getting involved in this bullshit..." I pull my baseball cap on, and go up the stairs.

    "Where are you going?" Lucas calls up to me.

    "To call my mom for a ride home," I say, "we have a funeral to prepare the church for..."

•••

    I look at myself in the full-length mirror in my room. I brush my hands down the skirt of the simple, black dress, and adjust the hairband in my hair.

    There's a soft knock on my door.

    "Come in," I say.

    Mother gently opens the door, and steps in. "We're going to the church now, Martha," she says, "Are you ready?"

    I nod a little. I take a deep breath, and look at her. Tears well up in my eyes, and the feeling in my heart is reflected in her eyes. 

    Despair for the loss of William and the hope that the next funeral will not be Hannah's.

    She extends a hand toward me, and I take it. She pulls me in for a gentle hug, resting my head on her chest. "I know, Martha..." she mutters, "...I know..."

    "It wasn't Astrid or Eddie..." I say to her, tears running down my face, "It couldn't have been...they'd never..."

    "Sometimes, those closest to us are the most hurtful..." she mutters, though I know she doesn't believe they took Hannah either.

    I nod a little, and step back from her. "Let's go help Father..." I mutter.

    She nods, and we both go downstairs to the car.

•••

    Later in the day, we stood with everyone attending William's funeral, under a canopy in the cemetery next to our church.

    "'Fear not, for I am with you," Father reads from his book, "Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you. Yes, I will help you. I will uphold you with my righteous right hand,'" he closes his book.

    I grit my teeth, not seeing a flicker of emotion or empathy in my father's eyes, knowing what he thinks of William's death.

    "It's times like these that our faith is challenged," he says, "How, if He is truly benevolent...could God take from us someone so young, so innocent? It would be easy to turn away from God...but we must remember that nothing, not even tragedy, can separate us from His love. We are here today to find comfort in the truth of scripture, and to surround Will and his family..."

    I sigh softly, and find myself looking over the crowd standing around the grave. I pause when I see Astrid and Eddie, in nice clothes, standing under an umbrella, staying a good distance away from the rest of the group.

    She sees me, and gives a faint, sad smile.

    After the service in the graveyard, there is a small gathering inside the church itself.

    I stay near the door, looking for Astrid. I see her, staying out in the graveyard, and before thinking I go to her. 

    She looks a little hesitant as I approach her, but I grab and hug her tightly. 

    "I'm glad you're here..." I mutter to her, letting tears that I've been holding back the entire funeral flow.

    She sighs, and hugs me back. "I'm sorry for staying away," she mutters, "...but...I didn't know what Paul would do if he saw me here..."

    "He's gotten so much worse, Astrid..." I whimper, "...please...you need to do something..."

    Eddie looks at me, then looks into the church, narrowing his eyes. He's wearing a gray dress shirt and crimson tie, the sleeves rolled up to his elbows, tucked into a pair of jeans that aren't ripped. He's holding a black umbrella over him and Astrid. His hair seems to have been combed, or at least an attempt was made.

    Astrid has her hair down and straightened, held back with a dark red headband, and is wearing a simple, black dress with a white collar and cuffs, almost like what Wednesday Addams would wear. She has just her cross necklace, and a simple pair of hoops as her main earrings. She is wearing fishnet stockings and Mary Jane's, but her make up is a lot more subdued than usual.

    "Hopper knows," Astrid says, "we just need proof to take to CPS, and then...it's in their hands,"

    I nod a little. "You...you didn't hurt Hannah...right?" I ask.

    She shakes her head. "No, I didn't," she says, "the first I heard of it was the attempted arrest," she smiles sadly. "I have Oliver and her tooth..." she mutters, "And Hopper is now focusing on finding Hannah,"

    I nod a little. "I'm so sorry, Astrid..." I mutter, holding both of her hands, "...I don't know why father treats you like this..."

    She shrugs and shakes her head. "No way to change it..." she mutters.

    Eddie scoffs a little. "Leave me with him in a room with a baseball bat," he mutters, "then we'll see if we can change it..."

    Astrid stomps on his foot a little, making him hiss in pain. "Not at a church, babe..." she mutters.

    I chuckle softly, but it's a sad kind of chuckle. "I wish we could live with you..." I mutter, "...you basically raised us...we belong with you..."

    She sighs, and nods a little. "I know, hon," she mutters, gently caressing my face, and adjusting my hair a little, "after we find Hannah, I will fight tooth and claw to get you guys safe, okay?"

    I nod a little, and hug her again. "Should I tell Zach you're here?" I ask.

    She shrugs a little. "We were just about to head out, actually..." she mutters, "don't want to overstay our welcome. I just wanted to share my condolences with Joyce, then we were going to leave,"

    I nod a little. "I'll go tell her you're here," I say, gently squeezing both of her hands, then going back into the church. I look through the small crowd of people, and find Joyce and Jonathan. I walk up to them, and smile and nod a little at Miss Wheeler, who is chatting with Joyce.

    She smiles softly and nods back.

    I gently place my hand on Joyce's shoulder.

    She looks at me and gives a small smile. "Hi, Martha..." she mutters.

    "There's someone outside who wants to talk to you, Mrs. Byers..." I mutter, glancing at my father, standing nearby, "...she sent me to get you,"

    Joyce looks confused for a second, then looks at the exit. She sighs, and smiles a little. She nods, and looks at me. "Thank you, Martha..." she says, then goes to the exit that Astrid is standing at.

    I watch her, and sigh softly.

•••

    I peer around the lunch room, and see Martha sitting on her own at the end of a table of her classmates.

    She isn't looking at anyone, just staring down at her tray.

    I nod and walk toward her. I sat down across from her.

    She looks up, looking confused. "Zach?" She asks, tilting her head a little, "Why aren't you sitting with your friends?"

    "I'm not friends with them anymore," I say, quietly, then look up at her, "I need to talk to you,"

    She furrowed her eyebrows. "Why not talk to me at home?" She asks.

    I shake my head. "It needs to be where Mom and Dad can't hear us," I say, "it...it's about Will. And Hannah,"

    She looks surprised. "What about them?" She asks.

    I glance around, so I know no one is listening. "So...my frien-...er...the boys I used to hang out with, they don't think Will is dead. Which is stupid, we saw him at the quarry..."

    She looks shocked. "What do you mean you saw him?!" She says.

    I cringe a little. "When...I was supposed to be writing lines for beating a kid up at school?" I mutter, "I...I snuck out, and we walked along the train tracks, looking for Will,"

    She sighs. "Zach..." she mutters, shaking her head.

    "But, they think they can find him, because..." I say, then stop myself. 'I'm not supposed to tell anyone about Eleven...' I think, 'but...this is an emergency,' I take a deep breath. "When we went looking for Will that first time," I say, "the night that..." I pause, thinking of the night I saw Dad hit Astrid. I shake my head a little. "Well...we didn't find Will, obviously," I say, "we found...something else,"

    She looks concerned. "Something else?" She asks.

    I nod. "Someone else," I say, "a girl. Her hair was shaved, and she...she had a number tattooed on her arm. 011. We've been calling her Eleven, or El,"

    "Wait, where is she?" She asks, glancing around as if she thinks she'll see El and my old friends.

    I grit my teeth. "She..." I take a deep breath, "she's been staying in Mike's basement,"

    She looks at me, astonished. "Why haven't you told anyone about her?" She asks.

    "I promised," I say, "and...she has superpowers. She can move stuff with her mind, and she can find people. She said she knows where Will is, and said...'Upside Down'? We don't really know what she meant by that, but she also could make radios and things, like...find Will's voice, even after we thought he was dead, and...Hannah was with him..."

    She goes pale. "Oh, no..." she mutters.

    "I know how it sounds," I say, "and I don't wanna believe it either. So...here's my idea: you and I, we work together, and we find Hannah, okay? We find her, and bring her home, and prove it wasn't Astrid,"

    She looks somewhat unsure. "I...I don't know, Zach..." she mutters, "we don't even know where to start looking! Why not just leave it to the police?"

    "That's where we can go!" I say, "Hopper knows Astrid, he'll help us!"

    "He'll tell us the same thing," she says, "to leave it to the adults,"

    "Do you want to find our little sister or not?!" I say, frustrated. I take a deep breath. "Martha...please," I mutter, "you're the only sister I have left to talk to...at least, the last one still in the house,"

    She sighs. "Ok, fine," she says, "but we're talking to an adult of some kind first,"

    "Not mom and dad," I say, "and we're not telling anyone about El. It's better that way..."

    She nods a little. "Okay..." she mutters.

•••

    After school, Martha and I bike to Will's house to talk to his mother.

    Martha's bike is a simple, powder blue Huffy bike with a basket in the front and a bell.

    Mine is a red one of the same model, just without the basket. It also has a bell.

    We get to the house, and see an extra vehicle there. We look at each other.

    "Zach..." Martha mutters, but I put my kickstand down and park my bike by a tree in the front of the house.

    I take my helmet off and hang it on the handle bar of my bike, and go to the door. I pause at the door, hearing a loud discussion inside. I press my ear to the door to listen.

    "Just look around at this place," a man says, angrily, "All your Christmas lights. What the hell am I supposed to think? You're such a great mom? You're a mess!"

    "Maybe I am a mess," Will's mom shouts back, "Maybe I'm crazy. Maybe I'm out of my mind! But, God help me, I will keep these lights up until the day I die if I think there's a chance that Will's still out there!"

    There are the sounds of footsteps as they get closer to the door. 

    "Now, get out!" She shouts again, closer to the door, "Get out of my house!"

    I step back as the door slams open.

    A man storms out, and looks confused at Martha and I, but continues past us to his car.

    Will's mom sighs as she watches him, then sees us. She looks surprised, and then smiles a little, looking relieved to see us. "You're...Zach, right?" She says to me, "and Martha. What are you guys doing here?"

    "We need to talk to you," I say.

    She looks a little confused but nods. "Okay," she says, "Come in,"

    We follow her into the house, Martha gently grabbing my hand.

    "Sorry about the state of the house," she says.

    "It's alright, Joyce," Martha says, "You've been in a horribly hard situation,"

    She nods a little. She leads us to the kitchen. "Can I get you guys something to drink?" She asks, "You must be thirsty, biking all the way here..."

    "Water, if it's not too much trouble," Martha says, sitting.

    I sit down as well. "Soda?" I ask.

    Joyce nods a little. She goes into her refrigerator, takes out a can of Coke, sets it in front of me, then gets a glass of water for Martha. She then sighs as she sits across from us. "What did you want to talk about?" She asks.

    I look at Martha. "We...we wanted to...we..." I take a deep breath.

    "We wanted to talk about Hannah," Martha says, "And Will, and...we're going to be looking for Hannah on our own, and wanted to see if we could figure out the best place to start looking for her,"

    Joyce looks concerned, and sighs. "Martha...Zach..." she sighs, "...I know this is hard...but..."

    "Before you say 'leave it to the adults'," I say, "it's adults who let us down with Will, right?"

    She looks a little shocked, almost offended, and Martha stomps on my foot.

    I wince. "Sorry..." I mutter, "...I mean...we don't have a lot of adults we can trust...so..." I tilt my head.

    She furrowed her eyebrows. "What do you mean?" She asks.

    Martha and I look at each other.

    Martha sighs softly, and rolls her sleeve up, showing the large, hand-shaped bruise around her wrist. "The black eye has faded enough now," she mutters, "I've started covering it with makeup..."

    The fingers of her right hand, her ring and pinky fingers, are no longer taped to her middle finger, but are black and blue.

    I bite the inside of my lip, gently rubbing my right knee, the bruises from kneeling on rice aching a little.

    Joyce looks shocked, looking at Martha's bruising. "Was...was this...?" She mutters, gently turning Martha's arm over to look at the bruises better.

    "Father..." Martha mutters, "When I got a C on a science paper. Astrid used to get the brunt of his anger..."

    Joyce sighs. "You poor children..." she mutters.

    I am about to continue speaking, when someone pounds on the door.

    We all look at the front door.

    Joyce stands up, starting toward the door. "Go away, Lonnie," she says.

    Whomever it is continues to pound at the door.

    "Seriously!" She says, getting to the door, "I am gonna murd-"

    Martha and I turn in our seats a little, watching as she opens the door and Chief Hopper stands at the door.

    He quickly steps in and shushes, looking around.

    "What?" Joyce whispers, "What?"

    Martha and I look at each other, confused.

    Hopper starts to search around the house, taking light bulbs out of their sockets and carefully inspecting the sockets. "Okay," he mutters,     "Should be okay, I mean...I can't guarantee it, but it should be okay,"

    "What the hell is going on, Hopper?" Joyce says, standing near us.

    "They bugged my place," Hopper says. He looks at us, confused at first, then worried.

    "What?" Joyce asks.

    "They bugged my place," he repeats, "They put a microphone in the light,"

    Joyce sighs.

    "It's because I'm on to them and they know it," Hopper says.

    "Who?" Joyce asks.

    "I don't know," Hopper says, "I thought they might be watching you, too,"

    "Who?!" Joyce repeats.

    "I don't know," Hopper says, "the CIA, the NSA, Department of Energy...I don't know,"

    "You gotta explain this to me," Joyce says, crossing her arms, "'cause I am not-"

    "I went to the morgue last night, Joyce," Hopper says, interrupting her. He glances at us.

    "What?" Joyce asks.

    "It wasn't him," Hopper says.

    "What?" Joyce says, in disbelief.

    I echo the "What?", starting to stand up, but Martha stops me.

    "Will's body," Hopper says, glancing at me, "it was a fake,"

    Joyce exclaims in relief, placing her hands over her mouth.

    Martha stands, gently taking her arm.

    "You were right," Hopper says, "This whole time, you were right," He looks at Martha, and then at me. "You...you're Astrid's siblings...right?" He asks.

    I nod. "Yes, sir," I say.

    He looks at me, and nods. "What are you doing here?" He asks.

    "We want to help search for Hannah," Martha says, "we have reason to believe she's somehow with Will,"

    Joyce looks at her, and nods. "I...I heard her," she says, "When...when I was showing Astrid how I could hear Will through the radio...we also heard Hannah,"

    Hopper furrows his eyebrows, but nods. He glances at Martha's arm, and pain shows in his eyes, but doesn't say anything. "I'd hate to burst your bubble kids," he says, "but, the best thing you can do right now is go home and stay safe,"

    I sigh, angrily. "Don't you get it!?" I say, "it's not safe at home! Dad won't believe us if we try to tell him it wasn't Astrid, he doesn't care as much as he says he does whether or not Will is dead, and if we don't get out of that house before it's too late, we'll all either be dead or mindless church zombies!" I'm breathing heavily, tears welling up in my eyes. I wipe my eyes on my sleeve.

    Someone places their hands on my shoulders, and I look at Hopper.

    He kneels in front of me. "I get that you're scared," he says, gently, "I do. And it pisses me off to see kids like you in danger, when home is supposed to be the one place you're supposed to feel safe. But, right now, we don't have anywhere for you to stay without breaking a few laws, and...we don't want that. I promise you, though, I'm doing everything I can to look for Will and Hannah, and when I do, I'm going to help Astrid take your case to court, and I'll be damned if I'm going to let your father keep winning. Got it?"

    I sniff, and nod.

    He nods, and looks up at Martha. "Do you guys need a ride home?" He asks.

    Martha shakes her head. "We rode our bikes," she says, "we should get going soon, though. It'll be dark soon,"

    Hopper nods, and stands up. "I'll let you guys know if I find anything about Hannah, okay?" He says, "I promise,"

    I nod a little, and Martha tugs my arm a little. I turn and hug Joyce.

    She chuckles and hugs me back. "It's gonna be okay, Zach..." she mutters, "...we'll get them back,"

    I nod, and let go of her. I sniff again, wiping my eyes as I follow Martha out of the house.

•••

    That night, I'm laying in bed, reading a Spider-Man comic Will gave me, when someone knocks on my door. I quickly tuck the book under my pillow and grab a book next to my bed. "Hello?" I say, holding the book open as if I was reading it.

    Martha opens the door and steps in. "Zach," she says, "I...I need to ask you something,"

    I nod a little, furrowing my eyebrows.

    "For starters..." she says, holding something close to her chest, "...I found it by accident. I was just collecting your laundry, and...I found this," She holds out a folded piece of multicolor fabric.

    My heart shoots into my throat, my eyes widening. I quickly scramble out of bed. "I-I can explain!" I say, "Please...don't tell dad,"

    She sighs, closing the door. "Astrid bought it for you, didn't she?" She asks, "I wouldn't know where you would have gotten it, so..."

    I sigh. I nod. "She bought it while we were still in Chicago..." I mutter, "...she has one as well...she's the only one who really knows..."

    Martha sighs. "Zach...are...are you..." she starts, then takes a shaking breath. "Are you queer?" She asks.

    I lower my eyes, looking at the floor. I nod a little.

    She sighs. "And...you have a crush on Will...don't you?" She asks. She steps forward, and gently rests a hand on my shoulder.

    I look up at her.

    "Let's find a better hiding place than just under your bed," she says, "one where Father is less likely to find it,"

    I smile a little and nod.

Chapter Text

I take a deep breath, exhaling through my nose, as I push a box of lightbulb boxes onto the shelf in the supply room of the store. I lift up a second one as the door opens.

    My manager pokes his head into the room, looking confused. "Price," he says, "your, uh...your siblings are here. They're asking for you,"

    I nod, pushing the box into its place. "Gotcha..." I mutter, "I'll take my lunch, if that's okay,"

    "Sounds good," he says.

    I follow him out of the back room, to the front of the General Store. "Hey, guys," I say, smiling a little, walking toward Zach and Martha. I gently grab each of their shoulders. "What's up?" I ask, "It's Sunday, shouldn't you be at church?"

    They look at each other, then at me.

"We need help," Zach says.

"We tried to go to the police and Joyce, but..." Martha says, then she sighs softly.

I furrow my eyebrows. "Here, come on," I say, nodding toward the break room, "I'm on lunch, so we can talk back here,"

They nod and follow me to the break room.

"What's going on, guys?" I ask, sitting at one of the tables.

They sit with me.

"We're trying to find Hannah," Zach says, "like how my f-...er...the boys I used to hang out with were looking for Will,"

I look at him. "Wait, you're not friends with them anymore?" I ask, "What do you mean? What happened?"

He sighs. "We...had a fight..." he mutters, "I...I got angry at Mike, said he didn't care about actually finding Will, that he just wanted to play the hero, and...I stormed out,"

I sigh softly and nod. "And...you're looking for Hannah because you don't want to go to another funeral..." I mutter.

Martha nods. "And...the sooner we find Hannah, the sooner you can get custody over us," she says.

I look at her, surprised. "You..." I clear my throat a little, "...okay. Okay, I'll help you,"

They both smile a little, and nod.

"But, I need to finish my shift first," I say, "and you guys need to get home before Paul has a fucking aneurism and try to have me arrested again,"

They both look guilty now, looking at each other.

I sigh softly. "How's this:" I say, "we meet up later tonight, at the park across from the Murder House. I'll bring Eddie, and we come up with a plan together, okay?"

They both nod again.

I nod back.

•••

I walk into the Police Station and wave to Flo.

Eddie is following me, and waves at her as well.

We go immediately to Hopper's office, and I knock a little as I start to open the door.

"Who is it?" He calls out. He looks up as I step in, and seems a little shocked.

I wave. "Hiya, Chief," I say, giving a small, two-fingered salute, "Don't be alarmed, I just had the gumption to actually do my usual makeup today,"

Eddie chuckles a little.

Hopper chuckles as well. He takes his glasses off. "What do you need, Astrid?" He asks.

"Any information you have currently about Hannah's disappearance," I say.

He sighs. "I've told you all I know," he says.

"Not everything," I say, "where did you find Oliver?"

He looks confused, then sighs. "The otter, right..." he mutters, then clears his throat, "off the road a little in the woods, about a quarter mile away from your trailer park," He stands up and walks over to a map of the town.

There's a circle around the area of the woods near our trailer park. It's labeled "Hannah".

My heart aches a little. I nod. "Okay..." I mutter, "...was there anything of note you saw in that area?" I look at him.

He looks at me, raising his eyebrows. "Have you been talking to Zach and Martha?" He asks.

I smile a little. "We just want to help you find our sister," I say, "the search parties have stopped after Will died, so...we volunteer,"

At the mention of Will, there's a strange look in his eye, but he nods a little. "Okay..." he mutters, "...okay, we didn't notice anything out of the ordinary at the time, but maybe some fresh eyes are a good idea,"

I smile a little. "I'm glad you think so," I say, "We'll tell you what we find,"

He then looks concerned. He glances at Eddie. "It better just be you and Munson," he says, "if you take your other siblings with you..."

I grit my teeth a little, but nod. "Don't worry, Hopper," I say, "We'll be alright,"

He sighs, raising a hand to his forehead and pinching the bridge of his nose. "Price..." he mutters.

"Ok, so, we need to go now," I say, walking toward Eddie, and grabbing his sleeve, "we'll leave you be, for now, and keep you updated if we find anything,"

"Yep," Eddie says, giving a double thumbs up, then an over-exaggerated salute, "we'll be reporting back,"

Hopper looks at us, a stern yet worried look on his face.

I smile at him, trying to assure him we'll be okay.

He sighs.

•••

Eddie pulls to the side of the road, where Hopper had indicated they found Oliver.

"Should be right here..." I mutter, looking up from the map I'm currently holding.

The woods are silent and still, and there is caution tape strung between a few trees.

"This is where they found Oliver?" Martha asks, standing up from her seat and moving to the front, leaning between Eddie and I.

"That's what Hopper said," I say, folding the map up and putting it back in the glove compartment, "Ok, game plan is this: Eddie and I are going to go look, you two watch the van,"

"What?!" Zach complains, "what do you mean we're staying here? We want to look too!"

"Look, people have been going missing and I will never forgive myself if anything happened to either of you," I say, looking from him to Martha and back again, "We won't stay out there long, okay? We're just going to look, see if we can find any clues, and then come back,"

Martha nods a little. "We'll stay here," she says, looking at Zach, "make sure nothing happens to the van,"

Zach sighs, crossing his arms, sitting back in his seat.

"You can turn on the stereo if you want," I say, "cassettes are in the glove box," I unbuckle and get out of the van, adjusting my leather jacket. I open the back door of the van, grab a flashlight from a bag in the back, and close one of the doors. "Shout if anything happens," I say, reaching up and pushing the bill of Zach's hat over his eyes a little.

He chuckles, pulling the hat back up.

Eddie rounds the van, approaching, looking both ways on the road. "Jeez, we're far from town," he mutters, "Kiddo got this far all on her own and wasn't seen or stopped?" He sighs and shakes his head a little.

I nod a little. "Come on," I say, grabbing his shoulder and tugging him toward the trees.

He sighs. "Into the spooky ass woods we go..." he mutters, grabbing the back of my coat.

I chuckle, rolling my eyes. "Don't be a wuss, Eddie," I say, turning the flashlight on as we enter the woods, shining it on the ground.

"Oh, my hero..." he mutters, chuckling.

I chuckle, looking at him, smiling "At your service, babe," I say.

He laughs a little. He then looks down at the ground, and pulls me back a little. "Astrid, look," he says, pointing at the ground in front of me.

I turn and look, shining my light where he's pointing to.

In the soft soil in front of us are faint footprints, washed away slightly by the rain, but still there. The most notable are small, child-sized sneaker prints.

I gasp a little. "That has to be Hannah," I say, stepping around them so I don't ruin the prints. I kneel down, and follow them with the flashlight.

"And something freaking huge..." Eddie says, grabbing a stick and tracing something in the mud, "...look,"

I stand, and look at what he's tracing.

They're large, animalistic prints, almost like a dinosaur: three toes and claws. The tracks follow the little footprints of Hannah, and around the same place, both of the prints get deeper, as if they both picked up speed.

I grit my teeth. "Whatever this was, it chased her," I say, "they went this way...but I'm going to go back to the van first," I turn back to where we came, and start trudging back through the woods.

"What, why?" Eddie says.

"That...thing might still be out there," I say, "I'm not going empty handed..." I reach the back of the van again, and grab a metal baseball bat that was in the back. 

"What's going on, Astrid?" Martha asks.

"We found tracks," I say, "big ones, and Hannah's. I'm going to follow them, see where they went. Eddie, stand near the road, so you're between where I'll be and the kids,"

"You're crazy if you think I'll let you go on your own," Eddie laughs, "let alone...stand in the woods on my own with jack shit to protect myself..."

I sigh, rolling my eyes. "Just...come on," I say, turning and walking back into the woods, but then pause. I turn toward the van again, and grab a camera from the back.

Eddie looks at me, furrowing his eyebrows. "What's that for?" He asks.

"I got it from Johnathan," I say, "it's one of his old ones he doesn't use anymore, he gifted it to me. I'm going to take pictures of the tracks, and whatever else we find," I make sure the camera has film, putting the strap around my neck. "So Hopper has proof," I say. 

He nods. "Gotcha," he mutters.

I nod, and start toward the woods again. I sling the bat over my shoulder as we enter the trees, holding the flashlight in my other hand, and start toward where we found the footprints. "Eddie, hon," I say, "mind holding the light while I take a picture of the foot prints?" I hold the flashlight out to him.

He nods, taking it. "Just...shine it on the shit?" He asks, illuminating the footprints for me.

I nod. "You got it..." I mutter, leaning the bat against a tree and raising the camera to my eye. I snap a picture of the footprints from a distance, then a close up of the massive ones, then a close up of Hannah's. I also take a picture of where it gets deeper. "Okay...let's follow them," I say, taking the bat from the tree.

"I'll keep the light, if you don't mind," Eddie says, "I...I feel safer with it,"

I nod. "Fine by me," I say, "I need two hands to swing the bat anyway,"

Walking next to the prints, so we don't ruin them, we follow them through the woods, going deeper and deeper into the dark trees. After almost five minutes of walking, we find a massive, ancient looking tree.

I furrow my eyebrows, and raise the camera. I take a picture of the camera. That's when I realized something.

There's a hollow at the base of the tree. And the footprints lead into it.

I approach the tree, and see, in the dim distant light of Eddie's flashlight, massive gouge marks in the bark of the tree. "Eds," I say, gesturing for him to come closer, "I need the light,"

"I don't like this babe..." he mutters, coming closer, "...I already had the heebies, but now I've got the jeebies as well..."

"Suck it up, cupcake," I say, "I'll make some Mac-and-cheese for you when we get back home, okay? For being such a brave boy..."

"Okay..." He mutters, stepping close to me, shining the light on the tree, holding onto my coat with his free hand.

I took a picture of the gouge marks. I look down at the hollow. "That's...about Hannah sized," I say, stepping back, "she always hid in small spaces when scared. Her closet, under her bed, between furniture. She would have gone in there if she was chased..." I look at Eddie.

He looks at the tree, then at me. "Astrid, no," he says, sternly, shaking his head, "Nuh-uh, you better not be thinking what I think you're thinking,"

I take a slow step toward the tree, still looking at him.

"Astrid, no!" He says, pointing at me, "step away from that tree hollow, young lady!"

"Pfft, 'young lady'?" I say, "I'm older than you!" I step toward the tree again.

"I swear to god, Astrid!" He says, frantically, stepping forward as I crouch down and carefully crawl into the hollow.

I have the bat tucked under my arm. I reach out of the tree, behind me. "Flashlight?" I say.

"It's my only source of light!" He says, but putting the light in my hand anyway, "what am I supposed to do?"

"There's another in the van," I say, continuing to crawl forward, "You should have grabbed it. You can still go ba- FUCK!" I feel my hand drop from under me, and I tumble forward, deeper into the tree.

"ASTRID!" Eddie's voice from behind me echoes through the tree.

I tumble through the tree, and out onto the forest floor. I lay still for a moment, taking a deep breath, but immediately regretting it.

The air around me reeks of rot, making me cough.

I stand up, grabbing my light and my bat, and look around. "Huh?" I mutter, looking back at the hollow behind me, "down the rabbit hole, huh?" I step toward the hollow. "Eddie?" I called up, "Eddie, can you hear me?"

There's no answer.

"Shit..." I mutter, looking around. I take a step back from the hollow. "Might as well, if I'm collecting proof..." I mutter, raising the camera, snapping a picture of my hollow, then turning around and snapping another picture of the strange, rotting forest around me.

Looking through the viewfinder, something catches my attention.

A human-like figure standing in the distance, in the trees, watching me. At least I think it is. It doesn't seem to have definite facial features.

That's when the sound reaches me. 

A deep, guttural, spine-tingling growl.

I slowly lower the camera, my eyes widening. I grip my light and grab the bat from the ground, carefully.

The thing crouches a little, leaning forward.

"Oh, fuck me..." I mutter, gritting my teeth, raising the bat, when I hear yelling in the distance. I furrow my eyebrows. "Wheeler?" I mutter, then my heart plummets. "...Holland...fuck..." I mutter.

The growling grows in volume, and the creature lurches forward. 

"Oh, fuck that!" I yelp, breaking into a sprint to my right, toward where I heard Nancy yelling.

•••

I stare at the hollow of the tree, having heard Astrid yell.

"ASTRID!" I shout into the hollow, "Astrid, babe, can you hear me?!"

There's silence.

I run my hands through my hair, gripping at it.

My heart is hammering against my ribcage, like some kind of frightened wild animal.

"Fuck..." I mutter, "shit...fucking fucker fuck!" I kick at a nearby rock, stubbing my toe. "Ah, shit!" I yelp, grabbing my foot and hopping a little. 

My exclamations echo through the empty forest around me.

I take a deep breath. "Okay...okay...okokokok," I mutter, "back to the kids...then figure out where the fuck Astrid went..." I turn toward where we came, just barely able to see the headlights of my van in the distance.

The silhouettes of Martha and Zach stand at the forest's edge, looking into the trees, waiting for us. 

I start toward the lights at a quickened pace.

Zach looks at me when I get to the van, then behind me, expecting to see Astrid. He furrows his eyebrows when he doesn't see her. "Where's Astrid?" He asks.

I smile nervously at him, and gently nudge him into the van, "Let's uh...let's get you guys home..." I mutter, "or at least to the park so you can grab your bikes and go home on your own,"

Martha looks concerned. "Where's Astrid, Eddie?" She asks.

"Don't, uh...don't worry about it," I say, though I must noticeably look freaked out.

They look at each other, then at me again.

I sigh. "Ok, so," I say, then find the words spilling out of my mouth after that, "we found a hollow in a tree that Hannah's footprints lead to, along with huge ass monster or dinosaur like footprints, and I told Astrid not to, but she crawled in anyway and now, I think she fell somewhere she can't get back out and now I'm freaking out because I don't know what to do between keeping you two safe and going after her," I'm breathing heavily by the end of the single breath tirade.

They both look at me, mortified. They look at each other. "Joyce," they both say, then look at me.

I scrunch my nose a little. "Huh?" I say.

"We need to go to Joyce," Martha says, "or Hopper. Tell them what happened,"

"Yeah!" Zach says, "If that's where Hannah disappeared, Hopper should know about it!"

"Uh, no. No no no, you guys are going home," I say, nudging them toward the van, "I'll talk to the Chief, but you guys need to go home,"

"Please, Eddie!" Zach begs, "Those are our sisters!"

"I understand, Zach, believe me, I do," I say, "but too many Price Siblings have gone into that tree as it is! Please, just...go home and be safe, alright?"

"This is what we keep trying to tell people!" He says, frustrated, "I'd rather go after her than go back to Paul!"

I grit my teeth. "What if I took you to Joyce's house and you stayed there?" I say, "or back to our trailer, and you stay there until we get back? And you call your parents and tell them where you are?"

"Joyce's house would be better..." Martha says, "if we said we were at your trailer, we may get in more trouble,"

I nod a little. "Alright," I say, "get your booties in the van, and I'll take you to Joyce,"

They both nod, and get into the van, closing the door behind them.

I sigh, and look behind myself, into the trees. "Don't be dead, Astrid..." I mutter, going to the driver's side door.

•••

I continue my mad, weaving dash through the woods, swerving whenever the thing chasing me charges. I roll after my latest swerve, hearing Nancy's voice growing closer. I grit my teeth, wait for the sounds of the thing to fall away, then charge toward Nancy's voice. I tear through the woods, skidding to a stop, then dropping to the ground as I see her raise something in both hands.

A gunshot makes my ears ring.

I stare up at her, breathing heavily slowly getting to my feet.

She stares back at me, smoking gun in her hands, looking confused. "Price?" She asks, just barely lowering the gun.

"You almost shot me..." I mutter, standing up and brushing myself off, "...not going to lie, I didn't think you had it in you..." I smile a little, then hear something behind us. "Oh, fuck me..." I mutter, gripping my bat with both hands.

Nancy's eyes open wider, seeing the thing behind me.

The sound of the thing that was chasing me grows closer, the thing charging toward us.

I grit my teeth, and wheel around, swinging at the thing's head.

A hollow GONG!! echoes through the forest as the bat makes contact, the thing stumbles to the side, but doesn't run away.

I take a deep breath, my arm vibrating from the impact, and look at the bat.

It has been bent, almost into a complete semi-circle.

My heart drops, my eyes opening a little. "What the fu-..."

"Come on!" Nancy says, grabbing my arm, and pulling me backwards.

I nod, and follow her through a tree that was behind her. I glance over my shoulder as I hear the thing stumbling to its feet. "Uh...Wheeler?" I say.

"What?" She snaps.

"Think you can speed it up a bit?" I say, "our friend doesn't seem too happy!"

We scramble through the tree, Johnathan pulling us through just in time. We all hide behind trees or logs, staying in place as the thing comes out of the tree.

It searches around a little, and turns toward the tree again. It lets out a bit of a frustrated roar, what I thought was its face splitting open like some kind of horrific flower, each "petal" of its face covered in razor sharp teeth. After it seems satisfied that we aren't around, it returns back into the tree.

We all look at each other, breathing heavily.

I look at my bat again, and toss it to the side. "Fucking hell..." I mutter. I grab my camera, making sure it's not broken. I sigh, seeing it's fine. "Good..." I mutter.

"What the hell were you doing in there?" Nancy asks me.

"I'd like to ask you the same thing, Wheeler," I say, "I was looking for Hannah. I found her tracks, chased by something, leading into a tree near where she went missing,"

"I...I got a picture of the thing the night Barb went missing," John says, "we thought we could find where it came from, and in turn..."

"Where Barb is," Nancy says.

I nod a little. "Well...I think we found it..." I say, looking at the tree.

"What the hell even was that place?" Nancy says, standing up, "it was like...like Hell or something..."

I stand up as well. "I'd say more like Shadowfell..." I mutter, "...or Helheim, but..." I tilt my head. I approach the tree, and snap a picture of it.

She looks at me. "I'm sorry?" She says.

"Yeah," I say, "Shadowfell is a realm in Dungeons and Dragons. It's a reflection of the material plane, just...shadowed. Dark. And Helheim is the Norse version of Hell? One of the Nine Realms, like Midgard, Asgard, all that stuff. Instead of it being fiery, that's Muspelheim, it's eternally cold,"

She nods a little. She takes a deep breath, looking at the tree. "Sorry for almost shooting you," she says.

"Water under the bridge, Wheeler," I say, "now...I need to call Eddie, make sure he knows I'm okay,”

•••

I tap my foot as I wait for someone to pick up the phone. "Come on, Joyce..." I mutter.

"Hello?" Joyce's voice finally says as she picks up.

"Joyce!" I say, relieved, "Tell me Eddie is there,"

"Oh, uh...yeah," she says, "yeah, him and the kids. Astrid, what's going on?"

"Is that Astrid!?" Eddie's distant voice rings out.

"Could you put him on?" I ask her.

"Uh...sure?" She says.

"Astrid?" Eddie's voice says, moments later, "Jesus Christ, where are you?!"

"I'm at the Wheelers' house," I say, "I met up with Nancy. Don't ask, long story. I'm okay now. Little scraped and bruised, but I'm fine otherwise,"

He heaves a deep breath of relief. "Thank. God," he says, "I took the kids to Joyce's house. Thought it was...neutral grounds of a kind,"

"Got it," I say, "have you called Paul and Amelia yet? To get the kids,"

"I think Joyce is going to drive them home," Eddie says, "yeah, yeah she's nodding. So...sit tight, I'll grab you on my way home from here,"

"Yep," I say, "I'll...chill out here with Karen and Ted..."

"Oh, god, I'll be quick, then," he says.

I laugh a little. "Alright, see you soon," I say, hanging up the phone.

•••

I walk into the Chief's office, wave at Flo, and walk into Hopper's office.

He looks up at me and sighs. "How about knocking, huh?" He says, but he's smiling a little.

I return the smile and put a file on his desk.

He looks at it. "What's this?" He asks.

"Photos," I say, "From last night,"

He looks somewhat alarmed, but nods. "Okay, uh...let's...go outside..." he mutters, standing up, grabbing the file, and leading me out to his truck.

I furrow my eyebrows. "Why here?" I ask, getting into his truck.

"Not here," he says, starting the truck and driving for a bit.

I look at him, and watch out the window as we drive toward Eddie and my trailer. "What's happening, Hopper?" I ask.

"My house was bugged, so my office might be too," he says, "your place is probably safe, but...we're just being careful,"

I furrow my eyebrows. "Wait, what?" I ask, "Bugged? By who?"

"State police, or some other government group," he says, "I'm still looking into Will's disappearance, and they know I'm onto them,"

"Wait..." I mutter, "...Will? Isn't he..."

Hopper glances at me. He shakes his head a little.

My eyes widen. "Oh my god..." I mutter.

He nods. He pulls the truck into front of the trailer, and we get out.

I lead him into the trailer, waving a little at Eddie.

He waves, then nearly falls off of the kitchen counter as Hopper steps into the trailer. "What's going on?" He asks, putting his cereal down, and getting off of the counter.

I turn to Hopper.

Hopper walks over to the table, opening the file I gave him. He grabs the photos, and looks at them. He furrowed his eyebrows, laying each photo down as he looked through them. After laying them all out, he puts his hands on the table, leaning over the photos, looking at them. He looks over his shoulder at me.

I walked up to him. "So...these are the footprints we saw first," I say, pointing to the photos of the tracks, "that one is just circled because Eddie highlighted it for me to see when he first noticed it,"

Hopper nods a little. "Not like any tracks I've ever seen..." he mutters.

I nod. "And they were freaking huge, too," I say, "these sneaker prints? Those are Hannah's. So..."

His eyebrows raise. "Jesus..." he mutters, "and...is this where they lead?" He points to the photo of the tree. "There's three photos of the same tree..." he mutters.

"No," I say, "they're different trees. Two different trees," I grab the trees and lay them out, next to each other. "This is the one it lead us to," I say, pointing to the first one, "then, this is it on the other side, where the hollow lead me,"

"I'm sorry, what?!" He asks, looking at me.

"Ohh...yeah, I went into the hollow, and fell through it," I say, "I kinda...fell into a different dimension? I know that sounds crazy, but..." I point to the second tree, "That's what I saw on the other side,"

Eddie looks over my shoulder, and gasps a little. "Jesus Christ, it is like Shadowfell..." he mutters.

Hopper looks at him, then at me.

I sigh. "Reflected shadow realm," I say, "Dungeons and Dragons,"

Hopper nods a little. "Gotcha..." he mutters, "...so...what's the third tree?" He asks.

"That's where I came out," I say, "where Nancy had gone in. That's where Johnathan pulled us out, and the thing followed us out, but then went back after it couldn't find us,"

He furrows his eyebrows. "Thing?" He asks, "what thing?"

I look at the photos, and grab the one I had taken while still at the Other tree. I place it in the middle, and tap the image. "That Thing," I say, pointing out the human-like figure hidden in the shadows of the trees.

He leans down a little, and picks up the picture to look at it. "What in the hell...?" He mutters.

"It chased me through the woods," I say, "it was fast, like...insanely fast. I almost got caught a few times. When I met up with Wheeler, it charged at us, and I had to hit it with my bat to get it away from us. It stunned it for a minute or so, but...it bent my bat beyond use,"

Hopper looks at me, and chuckles in disbelief. "Jesus..." he mutters, "...play sports before?"

I smile a little. "I played softball in Chicago in middle school," I say, shrugging.

He chuckles again, but the small smile doesn't stay in place. "So...this is where they went?" He mutters, then looks at me, "Mind if I keep these photos?"

"Not at all," I say, "you are who I took them for,"

He nods, collecting the photos, and putting them in the folder. "I'll let you know what'll happen next, okay?" He says.

I nod. "You know how to contact us," I say.

He nods. "I'll, uh...I'll have Callaghan or someone drive your car back here," he says, "sorry about that,"

I chuckle. "Don't worry about it, Hopper," I say, handing him my car keys, "Have a good night,"

He nods, tipping his hat a little, and heading toward the door again.

I take a deep breath, watching him, then looking at Eddie after the door closes.

Eddie puffs his cheeks out, exhaling. "Something tells me this isn't over yet..." he mutters.

I shake my head a little.

Chapter Text

I take a deep breath, sitting on the front porch, tossing a baseball up and catching it, over and over. I sigh again, bored and miserably lonely.

‘Maybe I should apologize to them…’ I think, ‘I kind of miss our shenanigans…’

That’s when I see a group of kids on bikes tearing down the road, followed by three vans, marked “Hawkins Power and Electric”.

I raise my head, furrowing my eyebrows, then gasp.

It’s the Party.

I sit up straighter, then watch as someone on the back of Mike’s bike outstretches their arm to a van in front of them.

Somehow the van stops, a dent appears in the front of the vehicle as if it hit something, and flips over them.

It’s the girl from before. Eleven.

‘The Bad Men,’ I realize. I scramble to my feet, and run into my house. “Mom!” I call out, grabbing my bag, a bat, and my helmet.

“Yes, Zachary?” She responds, stepping out of the kitchen, followed by Martha.

Martha furrows her eyebrows, looking me up and down.

“I’m going to go for a bike ride,” I say, quickly lacing up my shoes.

She looks a little surprised, but slowly nods. “Alright,” she looks over her shoulder, “Martha, would you mind going with your brother?”

Martha nods a little. She takes her apron off, hangs it up, and approaches me, grabbing her helmet as well.

I grab her arm, and tow her outside, to our bikes.

“What’s going on, Zach?” She asks, putting her helmet on, and grabbing her bike. She gasps as she sees the van.

“Eleven did that,” I say, getting on my own bike. “we need to find the guys,” I say.

She nods a little.

We sped across our yard and down the street, toward where the guys went.

We soon catch up to them.

I speed up a little, so I’m next to Mike. “Mike!” I called out.

He looks at me, a little astonished. “Zach?!” He says.

El smiles at me, waving a little.

I smile back. “Follow me!” I say, popping a wheelie, and speeding to the front of the group.

Dustin and Lucas cheer and laugh from behind me, and I lead them down the streets, toward the trailer park.

•••

I sigh, leaning over the table, looking down at my chem homework. I’m biting on the end of a pen, my hand gripping my hair.

“All good, baby girl?” Eddie asks me from the kitchen.

“Why are covalent bonds so freaking confusing…?” I mutter.

He chuckles. “Man, am I glad I don’t have chem,” he says.

Then, someone frantically knocks on the door of the trailer.

We both look at each other, then at the door.

“I’ve got it,” Eddie says, putting the lid back on the pot of soup he's making. He wipes his hands on the rag that is currently draped over his shoulder, and walks toward the door. He opens the door, and Zach, Martha, and four other people pile into the trailer.

I get to my feet, looking at Eddie as he’s swarmed by the middle schoolers.

“Close the door!” Dustin says, frantically, pushing the door of the trailer closed.

“You think we were followed?” Lucas asks, racing to a window, looking out, breathing heavily.

“What the hell happened?!” Zach says, looking at Mike.

“Holy shit!” Dustin says, breathlessly, “Did-did you see what she did to that van?”

“No, Dustin, we missed it,” Mike says, sarcastically.

“Woah, woah, boys!” I say, approaching the group, “what’s going on? Why the panic?”

They all look at me, and I see that, with the group of boys, is Eleven.

Blood is slowly trickling down her upper lip.

I look at Zach.

“I just caught the end of it,” he says, then points at El, “she threw a van into the air with her mind. It…it was…”

“Awesome,” Lucas says, panting, “It was awesome,” he then turns to El. “Everything I said about you being a traitor and stuff,” he says, “I was wrong. I'm sorry,”

“Friends, friends don't lie,” Eleven says, “I'm sorry, too,”

“Me, too,” Mike says.

Zach shuffles his feet a little. “I…I’m sorry, too,” he says, “I…I didn’t mean to yell at you, Mike…I mean, I did, in the moment, but…”

Mike nods a little. “It…it’s fine, Zach,” he says, “what changed your mind?”

Zach looks at me. “We did our own investigating…” he mutters.

I chuckle a little. “By ‘we’ he means me and Eddie,” I say, looking at Zach, “because Hopper would have killed me if I let him and Martha come with us,” I look at Mike and El. “I saw the Monster,” I say.

“Yeah, beaned it over the head with a baseball bat, too,” Eddie says, then hisses as we hear something fizz from the stove. “Shit, the soup!” He mutters, rushing over to the kitchen.

I chuckle a little, watching him scramble to stop our food from burning, then looking at El again. 

She’s kind of messing with the hem of the pale pink dress that she’s wearing, and the sleeves of her sweater.

“Come here, honey…” I mutter, gesturing for her to come closer, “Martha, do you mind getting the first aid kit from the bathroom?” I say, looking at my sister, “it’s the second door on your right in the hall, should be under the sink,” 

Martha nods a little, and starts down the hall of the trailer.

I gently grab El’s arm, and lead her to the table. I sit down, and start putting my homework away. “So…what happened?” I ask, looking at the other boys.

They all sit down around the table.

“I went to go find the gate,” Lucas says.

I look at him. “Gate?” I ask, “To Shadowfell? There’s another one?”

They all look at me, astonished.

“You’ve been to the Upside Down?” Mike asks me.

“Is that what you’re calling it?” I ask, raising my eyebrows, muttering a thanks as Martha brings the first aid kit. I take out a pad of gauze. “Want me to wipe the blood, or do you want to do it?” I ask, offering the gauze to El.

She takes the gauze, and starts to wipe her nose a little.

I look at Mike. “Yeah,” I say, “I went looking for Hannah, where she went missing,” I stood up, grabbing the file of copies of the photos I gave to Hopper, “found a hole in the base of a tree, followed it, and…well…” I take out the photos of the tracks, the trees, and the creature.

They all stare at it, and El shudders when she sees the photo of the creature.

I pause, and flip the photo over, so I don’t bother her. “Soon after I took that, it started to chase me,” I say, “I ran toward the sound of Nancy’s voice, and-”

“Wait, Nancy?” Mike asks, “Like…my sister, Nancy?”

I nod. “She was looking for Holland,” I say, “Barbara. We met up, I tried to home run the thing's head, bent the baseball bat out of whack, and we escaped soon after,”

They all look at each other, then look at me.

“Astrid, do you have a map of town?” Lucas asks me.

I furrow my eyebrows looking at him. “Why?” I ask.

“To show the guys where I went,” he says.

I sigh softly, and nod. “Just a sec…” I mutter, standing up, and getting a map of Hawkins and the surrounding area.

Lucas stands, helping me roll it out, and the other boys help hold it down.

“Martha,” I say, “Mind getting El a drink or something?” I look at Eleven, “Want some water, some juice?” I ask.

El pauses, and nods. “Juice,” she says.

I nod. “We’ve got some apple juice in the fridge,” I say, “just use a mug or one of the glasses in the cabinet. Left hand of the stove,”

Martha nods, and goes toward the kitchen. “Want to come with me, El?” She asks, kindly.

El nods a little, looking from me to her and back again. She follows Martha to the kitchen.

“This is Randolph Road,” Lucas says, pointing to a line on the map, drawing my attention, “right here. The fence starts here, and goes all the way around. And this is the lab right here,” he taps a square on the map, “The gate's gotta be in there somewhere. It's gotta be,”

“Well,” Dustin asks, “who owns Hawkins Lab?” 

“The sign says ‘Department of Energy’,” Lucas says.

I pause. I look up at Eddie.

He looks over at me, a kind of panicked look in his eyes.

I grit my teeth a little. ‘That can’t be where Wayne works…right?’ I think.

“Department of Energy?” Dustin asks, “What do you think that means?” 

“It means government,” Mike says, “Military,” 

“Then why does it say ‘Energy’?” Dustin asks.

“It’s government funded,” I say, “like…CIA or FBI or something,”

“Or Area 51,” Zach says.

Mike nods a little, looking at Dustin. “Just trust us, all right?” He says, “It's military. My dad's told me before,”

“Mike's right,” Lucas says, “There's soldiers out front,”

“Do they make, like, lightbulbs or something?” Dustin asks.

I sigh softly. “Hopefully it’s different from the power plant…” I mutter under my breath.

Zach looks at me, a little confused.

“No,” Mike says, “weapons to fight the Russians, and commies and stuff,”

I look at him, scrunching my nose a little. ‘Shows what Ted knows and tells his kids…’ I think.

Lucas gasps. “Weapons,” he mutters.

“Oh, Jesus,” Dustin says, “this is bad,” 

“Really bad,” Lucas says, “The place is like a fortress,”

“Well, what do we do?” Dustin asks.

“I don't know,” Mike says, “but we can't go home. We're fugitives now,” he looks at me. “Is it alright if we lay low here for a bit?” He asks.

I sigh. “Fine, but I’ll tell you what I’m going to do,” I say, “I’m going to Hopper,” I start to back away from the table, and grab my keys, my coat, and my boots.

“What?!” Mike says, “he’s probably working with them!”

“He isn’t, and I know that for a fact” I say, “he’s the one who told me Will’s body was faked. He knows they’re onto him investigating the disappearances, and he’ll help us,” I look at Eddie, about to say something, when I hear a helicopter above us.

We all look up.

“What the hell is that?!” Eddie asks, stepping out of the trailer for a second to look up.

I follow him, looking up as well.

A few helicopters seem to be circling the forested areas.

“Mike, did you tell your mother you’d come here?” I ask him.

“No,” he says, “I don’t think she knows,”

I nod a little. “Eddie, keep the kids here,” I say, “if something goes wrong, I’ll call you,”

“Wait, that’ll take too long,” Lucas says, “here, take this,” He hands me a walkie-talkie.

I look at the homemade-looking device, raising my eyebrows. I look at him, and smile softly, nodding. “You guys stay here,” I say, “if I call over the radio saying ‘code red’, you know shit’s going down. Eddie, be ready to leg it, okay?”

He looks at me, terrified looking. He nods. “Gotcha…” he mutters, “…I guess we’ll save food for later…”

I chuckle gently touching his cheek. “I’ll take you out to eat when all this is done,” I say, walking toward my car as I tie up my hair.

•••

I arrive at the police station, and enter the building. I wave at Flo a little. “Where’s Hopper?” I ask.

She points toward a room, and I follow her directions.

I find Hopper, Nancy, Joyce and Jonathan are talking.

Hopper looks at me. A look of surprise, and a little of worry, flashes in his eyes. “Price,” he says.

“Hopper,” I say, “I…I need your help with something,” I pause, looking down at the table, at the pictures I took.

“We were just talking about your little escapade,” he says, then looks at Nancy and Jonathan again. “You say blood draws this thing?” He asks.

“We don't know,” Jonathan admits. 

“It's just a theory,” Nancy says.

Joyce sighs, a kind of angry feel coming from her.

“I'm sorry, Mom,” Jonathan says. 

“What, you're sorry?” Joyce says, angrily, “You're sorry? That is not good enough, Jonathan,” 

“I know,” Johnathan says, hanging his head a little.

“That's not even close,” Joyce continues, angrily, “That's not even in the ballpark,” 

“I wanted to tell you, I just…” Jonathan says.

“What if this thing took you, too?” she asks, “You risked your life and Nancy's,” she looks at me, “And you! I expected more from you, Astrid. God, I knew you were reckless, but I didn’t think you’d be this reckless!”

I hang my head a little as well. 

“I thought I could save Will,” Johnathan says, “I still do,”

“This is not yours to fix alone,” Joyce stammers, “You act like you're all alone out there in the world, but you're not. You're not alone,” 

Johnathan sighs, tears rising in his eyes. “I know,” he mutters. 

“God damn it, Jonathan,” Joyce mutters. 

“I know,” Johnathan repeats. 

Joyce sniffles a little. “Damn it,” she mutters, grabbing Johnathan and hugging him.

I carefully back away, to find Hopper again, but see that something in another room has his attention.

I can now hear an argument in another room.

We look at each other, and step forward to investigate.

“I want an apology!” A woman says, angrily, a boy in a cast standing behind her.

I recognize the boy as Troy, someone who bullies Zach.

“An apology for what, exactly?” Officer Callahan asks.

“Where is the chief?” Who I assume to be Troy’s mother continues her tirade, “I want to speak to him right this instant,”

“Stay here,” Hopper mutters to me.

I nod, leaning in the doorway of the room, my arms crossed. 

“Ma'am, I need you to calm down,” Callahan says.

“What is your name, Deputy?” Troy’s mother demands. 

Callahan chuckles. “Well, I'm an officer, okay?” He says. 

“Name and badge number, both of you!” She demands, pointing from Callahan to Powell and back again. 

“What the hell is going on here?” Hopper asks, approaching the group.

“Chief,” Powell says. He glances at me, but doesn’t say anything.

I smile a little, and wave by wiggling some fingers at him.
“These men are humiliating my son,” Troy’s mother says, gesturing to Troy.
“No, no, no,” Callahan says, “Okay, that's not true,” 

“Yes,” Troy’s mom contradicts him.
“There was some kind of fight, Chief,” Powell says.
“A psychotic child broke his arm!” Troy’s mom says, exasperated.

I straightened up a little bit.
“A little girl, Chief,” Callahan says, “A little one,”

“That tone!” Troy’s mom says, pointing at him, “Do you hear that tone?”
“Honestly,” Callahan says, defensively, “I'm just trying to state a fact,”
Hopper sighs and starts to turn away. “I don't have time for this,” he says. 

“It was a little girl,” Callahan says.
“Will you please take a statement,” he says, then mouths something to Callahan that I can’t quite make out.
“Yes,” Powel says, grabbing a notebook, “So what'd this girl look like?”
“She had no hair,” Troy says, “and she was bleeding from her nose. Like a freak,” his eyes land on me.

I raise an eyebrow, but my heart has jumped to my throat. ‘Oh, no…’ I think.
“What'd you just say?” Hopper says.

“I said she's a freak!” Troy repeats, looking from me to Hopper.
“No, her hair,” Hopper says, “What'd you say about her hair?”

I walk forward a little bit.
“Her head is shaved,” Troy says, “She doesn't even look like a girl. And…” he pauses, like he doesn’t want to say any more.

“And what?” Hopper asks.
“Tell the man, Troy,” Troy’s mother says. She eyes me in an unsavory way, but says nothing. 

“She can do things,” Troy says.

Hopper glances at me. “What kind of things?” He asks.

“Like make you fly,” Troy says, “And piss yourself,”

I try to repress a laugh, then cough to cover it.

Hopper glares at me. 

“What?” Powell says.

“Was she alone?” Hopper asks.
“She always hangs out with those losers,” Troy says.

I take a deep breath, balling a fist.
“‘Losers’?” Hopper asks, “What losers?”

Troy looks at me.

I grit my teeth. “Shit…” I hiss, stepping away.

•••

Hopper is watching agents, through binoculars.

Him, Nancy, Jonathan, Joyce and I are across the street from the Wheelers’ house, hiding behind our cars.
“I have to go home,” Nancy says. 

“No, you can't,” Hopper says.
“My mom, my dad are there,” Nancy says, starting to sound panicked. 

I look over at her, and sigh softly, my heart sinking a little. ‘Could this bring trouble to Paul and Amelia?’ I wonder.

“They're gonna be okay,” Hopper says, trying to comfort her, “Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey,” he gently grabs her arm.

“Let go,” she says, struggling a little, “Let go!” 

“Hey!” He says, turning toward her, “Listen to me. Listen to me. The last thing in the world we need is them knowing you're mixed up in all this,”

“Mike is over there…” she mutters. 

Hopper shakes his head. “They haven't found him,” he says, “Not yet, at least,” 

We all look up as we hear a helicopter whirring above us.

“For Mike?” Nancy asks.

Hopper nods a little. “Come on, get in the car,” he says, nodding toward his car.

I nod, and tap Nancy’s shoulder. “Want to ride with me, Wheeler?” I ask.

She sighs softly, looking unsure.

“Look, we need to find them before they do,” Hopper says, “Do you have any idea where he might have gone?”

I look at Hopper. I start to talk, but Nancy talks over me.

“No, I don't,” Nancy says. 

“I need you to think,” Hopper says.

“I don't know,” Nancy says, “We haven't talked a lot. I mean, lately…”

“Guys,” I say, raising my hand a little.

Joyce sighs a little. “Is there any place that your parents don't know about that he might go?” She asks.

“I don't know,” Nancy stutters.

“Guys!” I say.

They all look at me.
“I know where they are,” I say, “and, better yet…” I take the radio that Lucas gave me out of my car, and show it to them.

They all stare at me in astonishment.

“Why didn’t you say anything before?” Hopper asks, a little frustrated sounding.

“I was trying,” I say, “but people kept talking over me,” I raised the radio to my mouth. “Lucas, Mike, are you there, kiddos?” I say into the radio, pressing the button, “Do you copy?”

It takes a bit, the others staring at me expectantly.

“Yeah, I copy,” Mike’s voice comes over the radio, “It's Mike. I'm here. We're here,”

“I’m here with the Chief,” I say, looking at Hopper, “think you can give the radio to Eddie?”

“Uhh…yeah, just a sec,” He responds.

A bit of time passes.

“I’m here, hun,” Eddie’s voice comes over the radio, “what do you need?”

“Think you can get the kids to Joyce’s house?” I say, “meet us there?”

There's silence.

“Eds?” I ask again.

“Yeah, still here,” he says, “just…getting a head count, making sure I can fit all of them in my van…”

“Right,” I say, “just let me know when you guys leave the house. Avoid any Power Company vans you see. And, because I’m standing in front of Hopper right now, I feel obligated to say: drive safely,”

Hopper chuckles a little, and looks at Joyce, Jonathan and Nancy, nodding toward the cars again.

Jonathan and Joyce nod, going to Joyce’s car.

Nancy nods, and kind of points toward me.

Hopper nods a little, and goes to his truck.

I smile at Nancy. “Come on, Wheeler,” I say, going to my car, going to the driver's side door.

She nods, and gets into the passenger seat. “Woah…” she mutters, looking around the car.

I smile a little. “Nice, huh?” I say, getting in and starting the car, “I’m glad I found it used, but in good condition,”

She chuckles a little. “It’s…nice,” she says.

I nod, and watch Hopper’s truck pass, then Joyce’s car. I pull forward, following them. I turn on the radio, turning it down a little.

Nancy sighs softly.

I glance at her. “I know,” I say, “I’m worried, too,”

She looks at me. “About Hannah?” She asks.

“About everything, frankly,” I say, “Hannah, Zach and the Party, where the hell my life is going…”

“Paul?” She asks, carefully.

I grip the steering wheel a little tighter, gritting my teeth. I nod a little. I clear my throat a little. “How’s it going with you and Steve?” I ask.

She sighs.

I frown a little. “Okay, bad subject…” I mutter.

“How are you and Eddie?” She asks

I tilt my head. “Not bad,” I say, “still living with Wayne, so…but, we’re saving up to move out. Well…I say ‘we’. I mean me,”

She chuckles a little. She glances at me a few times.

I sigh. “Something on your mind, Wheeler?” I ask.

She hesitates. “Why…why did Paul kick you out?” She asks, “I…I know it’s not my business, but…”

I sigh. “He thinks I’m going down the path of corruption,” I say, “because of my choice of style, music, recreation, he thinks Satan has gotten to me,” I glance at her.

She looks a little shocked. She chuckles a little. “I’m guessing he didn’t like the whole…‘Witch of Hawkins High’ thing?” She asks.

I chuckle. “He doesn’t know,” I say, “at least…I don’t think he does. Honestly, it doesn’t matter if he does or doesn’t,”

She nods a little. “did he ever…you know…” she trails off, not wanting to say anything.

I sigh. “Are these the kinds of rumors Steve’s friends spread?” I ask, a little bitter, “that I’m a witch and my father beats me?”

“I didn’t say that,” she says, defensively, “I just-“

“No, I get it, I know what you guys think of me,” I say, bluntly, “that I’m a freak. And, you’re right. I am. I am a freak, and a witch, and my father did beat me and my siblings and mother,”

She looks somewhat surprised or saddened. “I thought pastors were supposed to be good…” she mutters.

I sigh deeply. “That’s the thing…” I mutter, “…he thinks he is. He thinks what he’s doing is in God's name,”

She sighs.

“We’re here,” I say as we pull into Joyce’s driveway.

Eddie and the kids are already there. 

Eddie is standing outside of his van, the side door open, some kids still inside the van, some standing outside with him.

We all park in front of Joyce’s house, and Nancy gets out of the car as I turn it off.

“Mike,” she says, approaching the van, “Oh, my God. Mike! I was so worried about you,”

I get out of my car, and start toward the van as well.

“Yeah, uh,” Mike says, awkwardly as she grabs him, “me too,”

I chuckle a little, but don’t have much time to recover before Zach almost tackles me in a hug.

He has his arms wrapped around me, face buried in my chest.

I smile a little, and hug him. “Hi, bud…” I mutter, “…what’s up?”

“Just…” he mutters, “…I’m terrified, and I just want all this to be over…”

I nod a little. “Same here, bud…” I mutter, gently running my fingers through his hair, “…same here…” 

“Is that my dress?” I hear Nancy say. I look over at her looking at El, and chuckle a little bit.

•••

“Okay, so,” Mike, at the table with the others, “in this example, we're the acrobat. Will, Hannah and Barbara, and that monster, they're this flea. And this is the Upside Down, where Will is hiding,”

I turn away from the counter, where I was getting Zach a drink, and look at the drawing that Mike has on the kitchen table. 

“Mr. Clarke said the only way to get there is through a rip of time and space,” Mike continues.

“A gate,” Zach says.

“That we tracked to Hawkins Lab,” Lucas says, “With our compasses,”

The adults look at them, confused.

I raise an eyebrow as well.

“Okay, so,” Dustin says, “the gate has a really strong electromagnetic field, and that can change the directions of a compass needle,”

I nod a little. “Makes sense…” I mutter.

There’s a brief silence.

Hopper looks at Eleven. “Is this gate underground?” He asks. 

“Yes,” she says.

“Near a large water tank?” He asks. 

“Yes,” she says, nodding.

“How do you know all that?” Dustin asks Hopper. 

“He's seen it,” Mike says with a tone of realization.

Hopper looks at the boys.

I grit my teeth. I grab the drink from the counter behind me. “Zach,” I say, handing it to him.

He nods a little.

Joyce approaches Eleven. “Is there any way that you could…that you could reach Will?” She asks, gently, “That you talk to him in this…”

“The Upside Down,” Eleven says.

“Down,” Joyce whispers, “Yeah,”

I look over at her. I place one hand on Zach’s shoulder, the other on Martha’s. My heart aches, hoping we’re not too late to save Will, Barbara and Hannah.

“And my friend Barbara?” Nancy asks, “Can you find her, too?”

Eleven looks at me. “Hannah?” She asks.

I smile a little, but in a sad kind of way. “You’ve already been asked to find two people,” I say, “I don’t want to add more work,”

She nods a little. She stands up and leads us to the radio in Will’s room.

We all follow, looking at each other with apprehension.

She sits at Will’s desk, and turns the radio on so that it plays static. She closes her eyes, focusing.

I stand at the door, watching.

Static…the static increases…the static becomes faint.

Eleven takes a deep, shaking breath. She turns in the chair. “I'm sorry,” she says, her voice shaking a little. 

“What?” Joyce stutters, “What's wrong? What happened?” 

“I can't find them,” Eleven says, sounding like she’s about to cry. Blood starts to trickle down her lip again.

I sigh softly. “Okay, El, honey…” I mutter, taking a step forward, “come here. Let’s get you cleaned up, and you can rest, alright?”

She nods a little, standing up.

I take her to the bathroom. “I’ll be just outside, okay?” I say, “Give a shout if you need anything,”

She nods, going into the bathroom.

I sigh, standing across the hall, my arms crossed.

Hopper, standing at the end of the hall, in the living room, looks at me, a look of sympathy in his eyes.

I give a small smile.

“Whenever she uses her powers,” Mike, in the kitchen, says, “she gets weak,” 

“The more energy she uses,” Dustin says, “the more tired she gets,” 

“Like, she flipped a van earlier,” Lucas says.

“It was awesome,” Dustin says.

“But she's drained,” Mike says. 

“Like a bad battery,” Lucas says.

“Well,” Joyce stutters, “How do we make her better?” 

“We don't,” Mike says, “We just have to wait and try again,” 

“Well, how long?” Nancy asks.

I look forward as Eleven exits the bathroom.

She looks at me, and then goes into the living room.

I follow her.

“I don't know,” Mike says. 

“The bath,” Eleven says, looking at Mike.

Mike and Joyce look at her.

“What?” Joyce asks. 

“I can find them,” she says, “In the bath,”

•••

I’m sitting on the couch with Eddie on one side, Zach on the other.

They’re both leaned forward, quietly playing round after round of rock-paper-scissors in front of me.

Zach is winning.

“Mr. Clarke?” Dustin says from the kitchen, using Joyce’s phone, “It's Dustin,”
I look toward the kitchen.

“Yeah, yeah,” Dustin says, “I just, I have a science question,” then very quickly follows up with, “Do you know anything about sensory deprivation tanks? Specifically how to build one?” 

There’s a pause.

“Fun,” Dustin says, like he’s trying to make up an excuse as to why he’s asking.

I chuckle.

Eddie also chuckles. “Man, how are you so good at this?” He mutters, having lost two more rounds of rock-paper-scissors.

Eleven walks over to us, and sits on the floor in front of us, watching Zach and Eddie as they continue their rapid fire rounds of the game. 

“You always say we should never stop being curious,” Dustin says, “To always open any curiosity door we find. Why are you keeping this curiosity door locked?” There’s a pause. 

I look at Eleven, and see her raise her hands, scooting closer, imitating Eddie and Zachs’ hands.

1-2-throw. 1-2-throw.

I smile a little. “El…” I say.

She looks at me.

I raise my hands. “Paper covers rock,” I say, raising a hand and a fist, covering the fist with the hand, “scissors cut paper” I raise a hand and two fingers, making a cutting motion with the scissors, “rock smashes scissors,” I raise a fist and a scissors, and crush the scissors.

She watches, and makes each of the hand shapes as I make them. She nods a little, and raises her hands to me.

I smile, and we do a slower version of the game.

1-2-3-throw. 1-2-3-throw.

“Uh-huh,” Dustin says, “Uh-huh. How much? Uh-huh. Yep, all right. Yeah, we'll be careful. Definitely. All right, Mr. Clarke. Yeah, I'll see you on Monday, Mr. Clarke. Bye,”

The phone is set on the base.

“Do you still have that kiddie pool we bobbed for apples in?” Dustin asks.

“I think so,” Joyce says, “Yeah,”

I look toward the kitchen as Eleven crushes my scissors with her rock.

“Good,” Dustin says, “Then we just need salt. Lots of it,”

“How much is ‘lots’?” Hopper asks.

At this point, Eddie and Zach have also stopped their game. 

“1,500 pounds,” Dustin says.

“Well, where are we gonna get that much salt?” Nancy asks.

Eddie and I look at each other.

•••

At the Middle School, Eddie and I are by the door of the room that Joyce, Eleven and Martha are in.

Zach is helping Dustin and Lucas set up the bath in the gym.

Eddie and I are going through what things we grabbed for self defense.

I’m putting on padding and my helmet from my time playing roller derby.

Eddie knocks on my helmet. “All good?” He asks, tying up his hair and adjusting his own skateboard padding.

I nod. “I wish we were at the high school,” I say, grabbing a bat that I had grabbed from my old softball stuff, “we could have reinforced these things in the wood shop…”

He chuckles a little, grabbing his own bat. “Yeah…” he mutters.

I look at him, seeing a look of fear in his eyes. I put my bat down, and gently place my hands on either side of his face. “You don’t have to do this, hun,” I say, “you can wait for me at home, or even outside,”

He looks me in the eyes, eyes swimming in tears, gleaming with fear. Despite this, he smiles a little. “And let you have all the fun beating up monsters?” He asks, “In your dreams,” he raises the pinky of his right hand, in front of me. “Till death do us part, right?” He says.

I smile, hooking my pinkie into his. “Till death do us part,” I say.

“This will keep it dark for you,” Joyce says, speaking to Eleven, “Just like in your bathtub,”

I look over and see her handing Eleven a pair of safety goggles covered in duct tape.

“You're a very brave girl,” Joyce says to her, “You know that, don't you? Everything you're doing for my boy, for Will, for my family,” she sniffs a little, “Thank you,”

Eleven nods a little.

“Listen,” Joyce says, gently grabbing Eleven’s hands, “I am gonna be there with you the whole time. And if it ever gets too scary in-in that place, you just let me know, okay?”

I approach. “Eddie and I will be there as well, standing guard,” I say, putting my bat on my shoulder, “nothing is going to get to you,”

“We’re on it, kiddo,” Eddie says, standing next to me.

Eleven looks at us, and nods a little.

Joyce looks at us as well, an appreciative look in her eyes. She looks back at Eleven. “Ready?” She asks. 

“Ready,” Eleven says.

Joyce stands her up, and goes toward the door.

I grab Martha’s shoulder. “Martha, when we get to the gym, I need you to grab Zach and go to my car, okay?” I say, giving her the keys, “get in, hunker down, and don’t leave until I come get you,”

She furrowed her eyebrows, taking the keys. “But-” she starts.

“Please, Martha,” I say, “I don’t need either of you being hurt either. Just…please, keep you and him safe,”

She sighs. “He’s not going to want to go,” she says, “He’ll want to stay for Will, and…I’ll be honest…I want to stay for Hannah,”

I sigh. I grit my teeth and look at Eddie.

He raises his hand and turns away. “I am not getting involved with parenting,” he says, “too young for that,”

I roll my eyes, chuckling a little. “Fine,” I say, “but keep him with you and stay near Hopper or Joyce, okay? Eddie and I will be busy with defense,”

She nods.

I nod as well, and we join Joyce and Eleven by the door.

•••

We all reconvene in the Gymnasium, where, in the center, there’s a kiddie pool full of water waiting.

Joyce and I help Eleven step into the pool, and, after she puts her goggles on, we help her lay back to float on the water.

I then stand up and step back. I roll my neck and my shoulders, gripping my bat.

After a minute or so, the hair on the back of my neck stands on end. 

Electricity around us, lights and things, give off a buzzing, surging sound.

Eleven is breathing heavily. “Barb?…Barbara?” She mutters.

I grit my teeth.

“What's going on?” Nancy asks.

“I don't know,” Mike says.

“Is Barb okay?” Nancy asks, “Is she okay?” 

Suddenly, Eleven screams. “Gone!” She cries, “Gone! Gone! Gone! Gone! Gone. Gone. Gone,” 

“It's okay,” Joyce tries to comfort her, “It's okay,”

I set my bat on the ground and approach, kneeling next to the pool, next to Joyce.

“Hey,” Joyce says, reaching into the pool and holding Eleven’s hand, “It's okay. It's okay, we're right here. We're right here, honey. It's okay,”

I nod a little. I round the pool, and grab Eleven’s other hand. “We’re right here, Kiddo,” I say, “it’s just like a nightmare or a dream, okay? Don’t be scared,”

Eleven take a shaking breath. “Castle Byers,” she mutters, “Castle Byers. Will. Hannah,”

My heart shoots into my throat.

•••

I look up, huddled next to Will, my eyes and head feeling heavy.

It’s been getting hard to breathe, and so cold. A while ago, vines started to wrap around me and Will.

I’m not sure if Will is still alive, his one arm around my shoulders, keeping me close to him.

My legs are hugged to my chest.

I look up at the girl who just entered Castle Byers, who kneels in front of us.

She’s in a pink dress and blue coat, her hair really really short. She’s maybe as old as Zach is.

“Your mom,” she says to Will, “she's coming for you,” 

“Hurry…Hurry…” Will mutters, weakly.

“Please…” I whimper. I whimper again as a low growling approaches us.

The girl looks up, and backs away, looking toward the growling.

I look as well, seeing the figure of the Monster prowling by. “Please…” I whimper, tears rolling down my face, “…I wanna go home…” Then, I look where the girl was, and she’s gone. My heart sinks, hoping she wasn’t just a dream.

•••

Eleven is breathing heavily as she sits up, as if snapping awake from a nightmare.

Joyce and I help her sit up and take her goggles off.

“Oh, okay, okay,” Joyce says, hugging Eleven as she cries, “I've got you. It's okay. I got you. I got you. I got you, honey. You did so good,”
Eleven cries as she grips onto Joyce’s shirt.

I gently place my hand on her shoulder. I take a deep breath, fighting my own tears. I take a deep breath.

Someone gently places their hand on my shoulder.

I look up to see Eddie, whose face is also wet with tears.

He gives a small, supportive smile, but a sad kind of smile.

I nod a little. I stand up, and sit on the bleachers in the gym, lean forward, placing my elbows on my knees. I take a deep breath, taking my helmet off, hanging my head, gripping my hair. I take deep breaths, squeezing my eyes shut.

Two people sit down on either side of me, and one sits behind me. The people next to me both lean toward me, hugging me, and the person behind leans forward, also hugging me.

I open my eyes, and look around.

Zach is to my left, Martha to my right, and Eddie is behind me.

They all seem to be trying to keep themselves from crying as well.

I smile, and laugh, and the laughing devolves into sobbing.

Martha squeezes me a bit tighter. “It’s going to be okay…” she mutters to me.

“Hopper is going to get her out of there,” Zach says, “it’ll be okay…”

I nod. “I love you guys…” I mutter, wiping my tears, “and, I swear to god, on Granny’s grave, that I will keep you all safe, even if it kills me,”

“Don’t say that, babe…” Eddie mutters, face buried into the back of my neck, “…I’m gonna worry about you now…”

I chuckle, grabbing one of his arms. I look up as I see Hopper, Jonathan and Joyce exiting the gym to the parking lot of the school.

Soon after, Jonathan comes back into the gym.

Nancy walks up to him, and they start talking.

Martha takes a deep breath. “I wonder if Mother and Father are being interrogated like the Wheelers,” she mutters.

“Dad definitely won’t like that…” he mutters.

I chuckle. “Honestly, if he gives them trouble, so be it,” I say, “for once, I’d be glad for his persistence and temper,”

My siblings chuckle.

A bit later, Nancy walks up to me.

“Price,” she says, “come with us,”

I furrow my eyebrows. “What are you talking about, Wheeler?” I ask.

“Jonathan and I are going back to the station,” she says, “to get our weapons. We’re going to find that thing and kill it, make sure it doesn’t hurt Joyce or Hopper, give them a better chance at finding Will and Hannah,” she glances at Eddie, “More people would be better, and I think you’re our best choice,”

I raise both of my eyebrows. “Stealing from the police to go monster hunting?” I mutter, then smile a little, “consider my interest piqued, Wheeler,”

She nods, glancing at Eddie again. “Meet us at the door when you’re ready,” she says.

I nod, watching her walk away. I stand up, getting Eddie, Zach and Martha to let go of me. I stretch a little, grab my helmet, and my bat, and turn to Eddie. “Eds,” I say, “stay here with the kids, okay? I’m going to keep the radio that Lucas gave me, so you have a way to contact us. If anything, and I mean anything, goes pear shaped, you sound the alarm,”

He nods a little, but looks scared. “Don’t do anything stupid, okay?” He says, his voice shaking a little, “I don’t know what I’d do if I lost you…”

I smile at him, and raise my right pinky toward him.

He smiles, and hooks my pinkie with his own. He pulls me forward, toward him.

I quickly kiss him, then take a step back. “Be safe, okay?” I say, softly, “watch the kids. Don’t be afraid to run if shit gets bad,”

He nods. “You do the same, okay,” he says, “be badass, but also…safe?”

I nod.

“Ew…” Zach mutters, chuckling.

I look at him, chuckling a little. “Mind yours, Zach,” I say, gently nudging his chin with my fist.

He laughs a little.

I look from him to Martha and back. I point at both of them as I back away. “Behave for Eddie, okay?” I say, “be smart. Be safe,”

They all nod, and Martha grabs Zach and pulls him toward them.

Eddie takes a step toward Martha, and waves a little as I join Nancy and Jonathan at the door.

I turn to them, tucking my helmet under my arm. “Let’s do this,” I say.

•••

I have my eyes squeezed shut, listening to Will quietly singing. I grit my teeth, hugging myself, shifting a little in the vines that have wrapped around me.

“What’s your favorite song, Hannah…?” Will asks, weakley.

I open my eyes. “Kermit’s song…” I mutter.

“What?” He asks.

I take a deep breath. “Why are there so many songs about rainbows…” I sing, shakily, “…and what’s on the other side…rainbows are visions, only illusions…rainbows have nothing to hide…”

“So we’ve been told and some choose to believe it…” Will joins in with me, “…I know they're wrong, wait and see…”

From outside the castle, I can hear the Monster growling, heavy footsteps approaching.

“Someday, we’ll find it…” I continue, squeezing my eyes shut, “…the rainbow connection…the lovers, the dreamers, and…me…”

The growling continues, joining Will’s heavy breathing.

Just outside the castle, the monster growls.

Chapter Text

I'm sitting with Martha, watching Eddie pace around, muttering to himself.

"They're gone," Mike says, approaching us. 

"What?" Lucas says. 

"Astrid, Nancy and Jonathan," he says, "Astrid's car's gone,"

"Did they go with the chief?" Dustin asks. 

"I don't know," Mike says, then looks at Eddie, but doesn't seem to want to ask him. He clears his throat softly. "Munson," he says.

Eddie turns and looks at him. "What?" He asks.

"Where'd Astrid go?" Mike asks.

Eddie opens his mouth to speak, but Eleven, sitting next to me, speaks up.

"Demogorgon," she says.

I nod. "They went to the police station to get their weapons back," I say, "then...they're going to fight the monster," Worry bubbles in my chest, hoping I don't lose a sister tonight.

•••

I pull into the Byers' driveway. "How are we doing this?" I ask.

"We set traps first," Nancy says, "Then we get weapons ready,"

I nod, turning the car off, and watching them walk into the house. I readjust my padding, and go to my trunk to grab my bat again, when Nancy approaches me.

She's holding something out to me.

I furrow my eyebrows, and look at what she's handing to me.

It's the handgun she had when she was in the Upside Down.

"Just...try not to shoot one of us," she says.

I look at her. "You...you're really trusting me with this?" I ask.

She nods. "John and I will be busy with other weapons and...things," she says, "you just...make sure it doesn't kill us, okay?"

I furrow my eyebrows, about to ask, when I realize what she means. My eyebrows raise. "You're going to make yourselves bait..." I mutter.

She nods a little. "That's the plan," she says, "have you ever used a gun before?"

I shake my head a little, accepting it from her.

"It's a little...shocking," she says, "loud, and it'll feel like something just kicked your arm, but...it should work,"

I nod. "I'll try not to miss..." I mutter.

She nods. "Come on," she says, "we're almost done setting up,"

I nod, closing my trunk, and following her.

We enter the house, and join John in the living room.

He has a knife, and there's a bat with spikes through it sitting nearby.

I crinkle my nose at the smell of gasoline. "Ugh..." I mutter.

John looks at me, his eyes flicking to the gun in my hand. He takes a deep breath. He stands up. "Remember..." he says.

"Straight into Will's room," Nancy says, nodding, "And..."

"Don't step on the trap," Johnathan continues. 

"Wait for the yo-yo to move," Nancy says. 

"Then..." Jonathan says, then ignites the lighter he's holding. 

I furrow my eyebrows, gritting my teeth.

Nancy looks at me. "The rest is up to you, Price," she says, "if it moves from the trap, or doesn't hit it, you make sure it does, okay?"

I nod a little.

John raises the knife he's holding. "All right," he says, looking at Nancy, "You ready?"

"Ready," Nancy says, raising her own knife. 

They both put their knives to their hands.

"On three," Jonathan says, "One, two..." he pauses, and looks at her, "You don't have to do this..."

"Jonathan, stop talking," Nancy says. 

"I'm just saying, you don't have to-" Jonathan says.

"Three," Nancy says through gritted teeth, cutting her hand.

Jonathan quickly follows suit.

•••

"Guys, guys!" Mike says, looking at our friends, "This is crazy. We can't just wait around,"

I look up from Zach, El and I playing rock-paper-scissors again.

I furrow my eyebrows, raising one. 

"Mike," Lucas says, "in case you forgot, we're still fugitives. The bad men are still looking for us," 

"Yeah," Dustin says, "and we don't even know where your sister is,"

"El can find them," Mike says, gesturing to El.

"Hey, woah, woah, leave super-chick out of this, okay?" I say, raising a finger toward Mike, "She's been through enough today, thank you very much. We shouldn't over-exert her, and besides, Hopper gave us a pretty solid plan, so I think we should stick to it," 

"Exactly," Lucas says, gesturing to Eddie, "We stay here, keep El out of sight and keep her safe. That's the most important thing, remember? Besides, she's okay. She's with Jonathan," 

"And Astrid," Zach says.

"Yeah," Dustin says, tugging on Lucas' arm, toward a door, "and she's kind of a badass now, so..."

They both look at me, heading toward the door.

I start to stand up. "Slow your rolls, kiddos," I say, gesturing for them to come back, "Where're you off to?"

"I'm just gonna go get some chocolate pudding," Dustin says, "I'm telling you, Lunch Lady Phyllis hoards that shit,"

I tilt my head. "That is true..." I mutter, "...even when I went here,"

"Are you serious?" Mike asks, exasperated. 

"El needs to be recharged!" Dustin says, opening the door. He looks from Mike to me and backs through the door a little.

"One condition, Henderson!" I say, raising a finger, "Share with the class?" I gesture to Zach, Martha, and Eleven. "Don't be greedy, okay?" I say, smiling, "some of us would die for some chocolate pudding right about now..."

Dustin smiles, nodding. He salutes me. "Roger that, Captain Munson," he says, then turns to Lucas as they tear toward the cafeteria.

I chuckle, sitting down, and looking at Mike, who looks annoyed. "What's your problem now, Wheeler?" I ask.

"You should not be left in charge of kids..." he says, crossing his arms.

I shrug. "Most likely not," I say, "but I'm the closest thing you've got to an adult right now, so...hey, at least Martha's second in command, right? She's...pretty responsible," I look at her. "Right?" I ask.

She looks at me, a little unsure. "How you ended up dating our sister, I will never understand..." she mutters, a faint smile on her face.

I laugh. "Just lucky, I guess," I says, "wooed her with my goofy charm,"

Zach laughs a little. "Or she felt bad for you," he says.

I laugh. "Watch your tone, youngling," I say pointing at him, "once she gets custody over you guys, I'll pretty much be your dad-" I hear myself say those words, and my heart plummets. "Dear god..." I mutter, "...I don't know if we really thought that plan out..."

Both Zach and Martha laugh.

"We'll consider you more an...older brother, if that's more comfortable," Martha says.

"Yeah," Zach chuckles.

I nod. "Sounds like a plan," I say, "now, back to me getting my butt kicked at a kids game,"

Zach nods a little, and we return to rock-paper-scissors.

••• 

    Somewhere in the house, a Door opens and shuts.

    I look up, looking around. I shudder a little, gritting my teeth.

There's faint creaking through the house.

"Did you hear that?" Nancy asks. 

"It's just the wind," Jonathan says, "Don't worry. My mom, she said the lights speak when it comes,"

I look at him.

"Speak?" Nancy asks.

I nod. "I've seen it," I say, "twice, actually..." 

"Blink," Jonathan nods a little, "Think of them as alarms," 

Nancy nods a little, continuing to wrap his hand, making him wince. "Is that too tight?" She asks.

"No, it's fine," he stutters, then looks her in the eyes, "Thanks...Nancy?" 

"Yeah?" Nancy says.

I shrink down a little, wanting to disappear, hoping that I'm not witness to something I shouldn't be.

    We all gasp as there's banging on the front door.

I look toward the door.

"Jonathan?" Steve Harrington's voice rings out from the other side of the door, "Are you there, man? It's Steve! Listen, I just want to talk!"

I furrow my eyebrows, starting to stand as Jonathan and Nancy go to the door.

Banging on the door continues. 

    Nancy answers the door. "Steve, listen to me," she starts, but he interrupts her.

"Hey," he says, "Nancy, what..."

"You need to leave," she powers through. 

"I'm not trying to start anything, okay?" Steve says.

I walk up to behind Nancy, tucking the gun into the back of my belt. 

"I don't care about that," Nancy says, "You need to leave,"

A chill goes up my spine, making the hair on the back of my neck stand on end.

I look up at the lights above me, starting to pulse. I look at Jonathan.

He looks just as scared as I feel.

"No, no, no. Listen," Steve stammers, "I messed up, okay? I messed up. Okay? Really. Please. I just want to make things right. Okay? Please. Please,"

I roll my eyes, sighing. "Nancy..." I mutter, gently grabbing her shoulder.

She looks at me, then looks at the lights, a look of shock in her eyes.

"Hey, what happened to your hand?" Steve asks, looking at her bandaged hand, "Is that blood?" 

"Nothing," She stutters, looking at him, "It was an accident," 

"Yeah, what's going on?" He asks, like he doesn't believe her. He looks at me, a look of anger showing on his face. 

"Nothing," Nancy says. 

"Wait a sec," Steve says, "Did she do this to you? Is this, like, some Satan Cult shit?"

I scoff, then jolt a little as the lights start to flicker more violently. I reach for the gun.

"No," Nancy says. 

"Nancy, let me in!" Steve says, pushing forward. 

"No. No!" Nancy says, trying to stop him, "No, Steve!"

Steve forces his way inside the house, and looks around at the lights. "What is..." Steve says, "What the..."

"You need to get out of here," Jonathan says, stepping forward.

"Whoa," Steve says, stepping back from me and Jonathan as we try to keep him in the front hall, "What is all..."

"Listen to me," Jonathan says to Steve, "I'm not asking you, I'm telling you, get out of here!" 

"What is that smell?" Steve asks, ignoring Jonathan, "Is that gasoline?"

I grit my teeth, pulling the gun from my pants, and raising it. "Harrington, I'm going to give you five seconds," I say, not quite raising the gun at him yet, but holding it ready.

He looks at me, and his eyes widen as he looks at the gun. "Wait," he stutters, raising his hands, "What? What is going on?" 

"You wouldn't even begin to understand," I say, "four,"

"Okay, is this a joke?" He says, laughing nervously, "Stop. Put the gun down," 

"Three," I say, raising the gun a little more. 

"Astrid," Jonathan says, gently grabbing my arm.

"Wait," Steve continues to stammer, now sounding a bit more like he's begging, "Is this a...What is this?"

"Two," I say, moving my finger to the trigger.

"Astrid," Nancy says, grabbing my shoulder.

    "No, no, no!" Steve cries out, hands in front of himself, "No, no!"

"Astrid!" Jonathan says, shaking me, "The lights. It's here,"

I look up, seeing the lights in the house buzzing and flickering. I grit my teeth, and nod. 

"Wait, what's here?" Steve asks, also looking up. 

"Where is it?" Nancy says, taking a step toward me.

I adjust my grip on the gun, and look around, through the house. I raise the gun as I look around, so I'm ready.

"Where is what?" Steve asks, stepping toward us as well, then ducking a little as I pass by him, "Whoa! Easy with that!"

"Where is it?" I mutter.

"I don't know," Jonathan says, "I don't see it," 

"Where is what?" Steve asks, sounding panicked, "Hello? Will someone please explain to me what the hell is going-"

From in front of us, down the hall, the monster stalks out of the shadows.

We freeze. 

The monster roars, its face splitting open like some kind of horrific flower.

"No!" Jonathan hisses, then pulls me back, "Go! Go! Run! Go! Get out of here! Jump!"

We all scramble back, vault over the couch, and take refuge in a room down the opposite hall. 

"Oh, my God!" Steve cries out, "Oh, my God! Jesus! Jesus! What the hell was that? What the hell was that?" 

"Shut up!" We all snap at him.

From somewhere in the house, we hear the monster screeching.

"What's it doing?" Nancy asks.

"I don't know," Jonathan says.

From around us, the lights pulse and buzz, then, the electricity jolts.

The house goes quiet.

"Do you hear anything?" I ask. 

"No," Jonathan asks.

We open the door and peer into the house. 

There is no sight of the monster.

I sigh. "Fuck..." I mutter, finding that I'm shaking.

Nancy looks at me. "Are you okay, Price?" She asks, gently placing a hand on my shoulder.

I place a hand over my heart, feeling it hammering against my ribs. "I...I thought we were done for..." I mutter.

She sighs softly.

"This is crazy," Steve is muttering, but growing louder, "This is crazy. This is crazy. This is crazy! This is crazy! This is crazy!" He goes to the kitchen and grabs the wall receiver, but Nancy takes it from him. "What are you doing?" He asks, "Are you insane?" 

"It's going to come back!" She says, "So you need to leave. Right now,"

Steve stares at her, then nods a little. He races out of the house.

I take a deep breath, looking up and around as the energy pulses again. "Here we go..." I mutter, raising the gun again. 

"Where is it?" Nancy says as we back toward each other, standing back to back to back.

"Come on," Jonathan mutters, "Come on, you son of a bitch. You see it?" 

I shake my head. "No..." I mutter, gritting my teeth.

"Come on," Jonathan says, "Where are you? Come on!"

From somewhere in the house comes the familiar low growling of the monster.

"Jonathan!" Nancy calls out.

I wheel toward where she's facing, and raise the gun.

Jonathan also turns toward the creature, but is closer to it than I am.

It lashes out at him, and knocks him back.

"Jonathan!" Nancy calls out, "Jonathan!"

The monster growls, and wheels toward me, swinging its branch-like arms at me, sending me flying toward a wall.

I yelp, then cry out as I collide with the doorframe of the kitchen.

My right arm is caught between my chest and the wall, and I feel a piercing kind of pain shooting up and down my arm.

"Astrid!" Nancy yelps.

I lay in a heap at the base of the wall, my arm in a pulsing, tingling kind of pain. I roll myself to my back in time to see Nancy grab the gun. 

Nancy fires off the gun at the creature. "Go to hell, you son of a bitch!" She growls. She fires until the gun clicks.

No more ammo.

Suddenly Steve appears, beating the monster with the spiked bat.

I sit myself up.

"Steve!" Nancy calls out as the Monster stumbles back, shoving Steve down.

Steve stumbles back, tripping over his own foot, and falling to the ground in front of me. He's breathing heavily, then looks at me. "What happened to you, Price?" He mutters. His eyes flick to my arm. "Holy shit..." he mutters. He pulls himself up, and kind of crawls toward me. "Your arm..." he mutters.

I look at my right arm, seeing that there's a bend to my forearm that wasn't there before. Tears rise in my eyes.

"Shit..." Steve hisses, "...shit, shit, shit!"

"I'm fine, Harrington..." I mutter, gritting my teeth, though it hurts so bad I feel like just cutting the arm off would be better at this point.

We both look up as the monster roars.

"He's in the trap!" Jonathan says, "He's stuck!" 

"Jonathan, now!" Nancy calls out.

Jonathan ignites the gasoline, the creature goes up in flames.

Steve jumps and carefully grabs my arm.

I hiss in pain at the touch, but watch as the monster writhes in pain, but is soon obscured by smoke and flames. 

The house is full of the sounds of the monster screeching.

"Get back!" Jonathan calls out as he passes us, carrying a fire extinguisher. Jonathan extinguishes the fire. 

After the smoke clears, we're all coughing, panting.

"Where did it go?" Nancy asks.

    "No," Jonathan says, panting, "It has to be dead. It has to be,"

Steve turns to me. "We, uh...we need to reset your arm..." he mutters.

I grit my teeth, nodding. "Just...make it quick, Harrington," I mutter, jolting a little as he grabs my arm.

"Sorry..." he mutters, "...ready?"

I nod a little. "Harrington?" I say, looking at him.

"Yeah?" He says.

"I wasn't really going to shoot you..." I mutter, "...sorry if I made you think that..."

He chuckles, nodding a little. He takes a deep breath, and adjusts his grip on my arm a little.

I close my eyes, gritting my teeth a little as there's a snap kind of noise and another stab of pain shoots up my arm and across my chest. I let out a soft yelp, tears leaking down my cheeks. I take a deep, shaking breath. "Fuck..." I mutter.

"You okay?" Steve asks.

I nod. I stand up, holding my arm to my chest.

"Uh, here..." Steve says, standing up and grabbing a towel from the kitchen, and tying it into a makeshift sling, helping me get my arm into it.

I nod a little. "Thanks..." I mutter.

•••

"Found it!" Dustin calls out from the kitchen, "I knew she was hoarding it. I knew it,"

"Yeah," Lucas says.

I chuckle, standing with my back against the wall, waiting as Zach takes a drink from the water fountain.

"Always lying," Dustin says, "saying she's out. Bald-faced liar," He exits the cantina with armfuls of the pudding cups. He looked at me, and smiled. "Pudding cup, my liege?" He offers.

I laugh a little, accepting a cup from him. "Why thank you, Squire Henderson," I say, then taking a second cup for Zach.

"Mike, I found the chocolate pudding!" Dustin calls out as he continues back toward the others.

"Okay!" Mike's voice responds from further in the school.

I chuckle a little, handing the pudding to Zach. "So...you're friends with them again?" I ask.

He nods a little, accepting the pudding. "Yeah..." he mutters, looking at the pudding. "How am I supposed to eat this without a spoon?" He mutters.

I chuckle, patting his back. "That, dear Zachary...is a good question," I say, looking at my own pudding cup as we casually meander back toward where the others are.

That's when we hear the sounds of doors, and feet.

I look behind us, seeing the lights of flashlights dance across the walls. My eyes open wider, and I drop my pudding, grabbing Zach. "Shit..." I hiss, "...Zach, go!"

He looks behind us as I push him, and we break into a run.

Mike meets up with us as we tear into the area where everyone else is.

"Guys!" Mike calls out, "Guys!"

"What is it?" Lucas asks, looking up at us. 

"They found us," Zach says.

I quickly grab my helmet and bat from where Martha is, quickly putting the helmet on. "Go that way," I say, pointing toward a door that leads away from the Agents, "keep low and quiet,"

They all nod.

Martha stands up and gently grabs El, leading the kids toward the door.

I grip my bat, bringing up the rear of the group.

As we creep through the halls, we hear distant radio chatter. 

"How did they find us?" Lucas asks, panting, as we pause at one corner. 

"I don't know," Mike says, "but they knew we were in the gym," 

"Lando..." Dustin mutters.

I turn to look over my shoulder at him, when I see an Agent turn a corner, facing directly at us. "Shit!" I hiss.

"Got 'em!" He calls out. 

"Go, go, go, go, go!" Mike calls out, shoving his friends to run down the hall.

The agent runs toward us.

Everything in my body tells me to run, to follow the kids, but I grit my teeth.

'Keep them safe...'

I step forward, swinging my bat with all my might, hitting the agent in the stomach.

He coughs and falls, and I laugh in relief, then run after the kids.

"Come on!" Zach yells at me as he pulls me down the hall.

In the distance, Agents are yelling indistinctly. 

Mike, from the front of the group, is yelling directions.

Then, in one hallway, we are intercepted by a woman in a suit, flanked by agents. 

Eleven turns toward them, lowering her head a little. She glares at them, and my ears start to ring, this kind of buzzing energy pulsing through the air.

Then, we watch as the woman and the agents' eyes begin to bleed.

I watch in mixed horror and amazement as they fall to the ground, bleeding from eyes, ears, and mouth.

Eleven also falls to the ground.

"El, are you okay?" Mike says, kneeling with her, "El! Something's wrong,"

"What happened?!" I yelp, kneeling with him. 

"She's just drained," Dustin says. 

"No, no, no, she won't wake up," Mike says, shaking her, "El! El! El!"

I raise a hand to El's mouth, barely feeling anything. "Shit..." I hiss, "She's barely breathing. Wheeler, we gotta go," 

    "Leave her," A voice from behind us says, "Step away from the child,"

I stand up wielding my bat as a man in a suit with silver hair approaches us. "Back off, asshole!" I snap, my voice shaking.

He just barely raises an eyebrow.

"You want her," Mike snaps at him, "you have to kill us first," 

"That's right!" Lucas joins in, "Eat shit!"

The man tilts his head, and looks at one of the agents.

Agents start toward us, grabbing and restraining the kids.

I step in front of an agent as they step toward Zach and Martha. I raise my bat, but the agent grabs it, trying to wrestle it from me. I resist, and almost get the bat out of his grip, when two other agents turn to me.

One presses his gun to the back of my head as the other wrenches the bat from my hands, and the third grabs my arms, holding them behind me.

"Let me go, you bastards!" I growl, thrashing against the agent's as they force me down to kneel, breathing heavily, my voice shaking and cracking, "don't hurt them! Please, don't hurt them!"

The Agent roughly bumps the muzzle of his gun against my head, making me wince.

The man kneels and pulls Eleven toward him. "Eleven?" He says, gently holding her, "Eleven, can you hear me? Eleven?" 

Her eyes flutter open. "Papa?" She mutters.

"Yes," the man says, "yes, it's your papa. I'm here now," 

"Let her go!" I growl, pulling against the agents, who pull me back, roughly, "If you hurt a hair on her head, I swear I'll kill you!"

"Shut up!" The agent holding me snaps, jostling me.

Eleven whimpers.

The hair on the back of my neck stands on end.

I furrow my eyebrows, looking up as the light above us buzzes a little. "What...?" I mutter.

"Shh, shh, you're sick," The man says to Eleven, "You're sick, but I'm going to make you better. I'm going to take you back home, where I can make you well again. Where we can make all of this better, so no one else gets hurt,"

Eleven shakes her head. "Bad," she whimpers, "Bad. Mike. Mike. Mike," she looks toward us.

Electricity around us is spiking, coursing through the lights and the walls.

My eyes open wider, realizing what this means. I look at Mike.

He looks at me. "Blood," he says. 

"What?" Lucas says. 

"Blood," Mike repeats.

There's thudding in the walls, drawing closer.

I look toward the wall, my heart hammering against my ribcage.

Suddenly the wall further down the hall erupts, the monster bursting through, screeching.

My stomach drops almost to my feet as the rank smell of the creature slaps me, seeing the thing's head split open as it roars.

    "Demogorgon," Dustin whimpers.

The agents let us go, and turn to face the monster.

I grab Zach and Martha, and pull them down the hall. 

"Go, go, go, go, go!" Mike calls out as we barrel down the hall, full tilt, trying to get away from the monster. 

Behind us, guns fire and there's indistinct shouting.

I take the lead of the group, leading the kids through the halls of the school. "This way!" I say, ushering them around a corner, "Come on, come on!"

"Oh, my God!" Dustin yelps, the kids skidding to a stop and doubling back as the monster attacks a group of agents further down the hall.

I let the kids pass me as they barrel past me, looking at Mike who's helping El. "Give," I say, carefully taking her from him.

"Wa-" he starts, but I don't listen to him, grabbing her, and picking her up.

"Come on!" I say, continuing down the hall, holding Eleven, carrying her to a classroom. "Henderson, door!" I shout, nodding to the door.

"Right, yeah, Sorry," he says, scrambling to the door, getting to it before I do.

"Hold on, kiddo..." I mutter to El, who's leaned toward me, "we're almost there,"

Eleven groans a little, gripping at my shirt.

We get her into the room, and I gently lay her on a table.

I take a step back as the others flock to her side.

Mike grabs her hand.

I take a deep breath, running my hands through my hair, gripping at it. I grit my teeth, closing my eyes, my heart beating so hard I feel like it may explode.

Someone grabs my arm.

I look, and see Zach, shaking like crazy, tears streaming down his face. I gently grab him, and pull him closer.

Martha, watching the door, steps closer to us, and I also gently grab her shoulder, pulling her toward us. She looks at me, and I can see she's terrified.

'Are we going to make it out of this?' I wonder, but I can't delve further into those thoughts as we hear sounds outside our door.

The monster screeching, screams, gunfire, thudding, more gunfire, then silence.

We all watched the door, tensely.

I pull Zach and Martha to stand behind me. I ball my fists, gritting my teeth.  

"Is it dead?" Dustin asks, taking a tentative step forward.

I follow him, grabbing his shoulder to pull him back, when the monster bursts through the door, making us all stumble back.

"Go, go, go, go!" Mike calls out, shoving his friends back.

I shove the boys toward the second exit of the room, and we barrel into another room.

"Get the wrist rocket!" Dustin urges Lucas, "Get the wrist rocket now!" 

The monster roars, following us.

"Take it out now!" Dustin continues, "Get the rocks, get the rocks, get the rocks!"

"Whatever you're going to do, do it quickly!" I shout, grabbing a nearby chair as a makeshift weapon.

After more panicked squabbling from behind me, Lucas steps forward, wearing a wrist-mounted sling-shot, and firing a rock at the monster.

It bounces off of the monster, and it roars at us, shaking the classroom around us.

"Give me another one," Lucas says, reaching back to his friends, who are urging him on. 

"Kill it!" Dustin yells, "Bastard!" 

"Kill it!" Mike joins in, "Go, go, go, go!" 

"It's not working!" Lucas cries out as his next projectiles again glance off of the monster's rock-like skin. 

"Hit him again," Mike insists. 

"Kill him!" Zach cries out. 

Lucas takes another shot, and the monster flies back.

I raise my eyebrows, but glance to my left, seeing Eleven standing there.

Her hand is extended, fingers in a claw-like position, glaring at the monster like she had when she killed the agents. She approaches the monster.

My heart sinks as the room pulses and buzzes with power.

I set the chair down, and grab Zach and Martha, pulling them toward me, keeping them behind me.

"Eleven, stop!" Mike cries out.

Eleven sends Mike flying back with a glance.

The monster is squealing in pain, held against the wall, thrashing against Eleven's power.

"Goodbye, Mike," Eleven says, looking at Mike. She looks back at the monster as it continues to squeal and thrash. "No more," she mutters, blood flowing steadily from her nose.

The creature roars in pain, lights flash, and wind whips through the room.

Eleven's feet lift from the ground, yelling in effort.

The room rumbles, and there's a mighty flash.

My ears ring, and the noise, wind, everything goes silent.

I take a deep breath, the silent classroom in ruins around us.

The others take a moment's pause.

"Eleven?..." Zach whimpers.

"El? El?" Mike calls out, looking around, panicked, "El!" 

"Eleven!" Lucas calls out. 

"Eleven!" Dustin joins in. 

"El!" Mike calls out, still searching, "El, where are you? Eleven! El?"

I take a shaking breath, almost about to fall to my knees, when Zach hugs me, followed closely by Martha. I hug them, tears pouring down my face. "It's over..." I mutter, "...it's over..."

Chapter Text

I take a deep breath, sitting by Hannah's hospital bed, holding one of her small, cold, clammy hands. I have Oliver on my lap, holding him with my other arm, lower arm entombed by a cast.

Signatures and notes from Zach and his friends decorate the plaster of the cast.

I rub my thumb across the back of her hand, and softly hum. I look over my shoulder a little as I hear the door to the hospital room open.

Hopper steps in, and steps to the side. He faintly, quickly smiles at me, but a grim kind of expression returns to his face.

Paul and Amelia step into the room.

"Hannah..." Amelia mutters, tears in her eyes, stepping forward.

Paul glares at me, but says nothing.

I stand up, carefully set Oliver next to Hannah, then lean down and gently kiss her forehead. I then step away from the bed, walking toward the exit of the room. I grit my teeth as a burning rage smolders in my ribcage while I pass Paul.

"What happened to your arm?" He asks, stiffly.

"Don't act like you care," I snap at him, then look at Hopper, "I'll be out in the hallway...let me know if she wakes up..."

He nods a little.

I exit the room, and sit down in a chair in the hallway. I lean forward, elbows on my knees, tracing over some of the signatures on my cast.

Eddie approaches, and sits down in a chair next to me. "Will's awake..." he mutters to me, wrapping an arm around my back, "...if you want to see him,"

I shake my head a little, leaning toward him. "I'll let the boys say 'hi' to him first," I mutter.

Eddie nods a little. He's looking toward Hannah's room. "Little thing up yet?" He asks.

I shake my head. "Paul and Amelia are here, so..." I shrug.

He sighs.

I look up as I hear the door open and close. I furrow my eyebrows.

Amelia steps forward, glancing over her shoulder at Hopper.

He nods a little.

She looks at me, pausing in front of me. "Astrid..." she mutters, softly, "...I...I know it may be too late to earn your respect back, or even for forgiveness, but...I hope it's not too late to try to make amends..." she reaches into her purse, and pulls out a large envelope, like what documents would be in. She holds it out to me.

I straighten up a little, and carefully take the envelope from her.

It's fairly thick and a little heavier than I expected.

I furrow my eyebrows. "What's in here?" I ask.

"Evidence," she says, simply, "I know Paul has gone too far to ever be forgiven, I just hope..." she takes a deep breath, tears glistening in her eyes. "I...I want you to know...I never thought of you the way your father did. I know you must despise me for never standing up against him, but...this is me, standing up against him. Take those photos, written accounts, recordings, everything, and save my children. Please..." She looks at me, a pleading look in her eyes.

I sigh, and stand up. I hug her.

She pauses, and hugs me back. I can feel she's shaking, sobbing softly.

"I promise, mom," I say, "I'll make sure they're safe..."

She nods a little. "Thank you, my dear..." she mutters, leaning back a little, and placing a hand on either side of my face, "...I am so proud of the incredible woman you've grown into...no matter what, never doubt that your mother is proud of you..."

I nod a little, tears welling up in my eyes. 

She nods, and we both tense up as the door opens again, Paul stepping into the hallway.

We step away from each other.

I put the envelope behind my back, and I feel Eddie grab it from me.

Paul looks at me and my Mother. "Astrid, Hannah is awake," he says, stiffly, a faint tinge of anger to his voice, "she's asking for you,"

I nod a little. I pass him, but before I can enter the room, he grabs my wrist.

He looks at me, a dangerous look in his eyes, but says nothing.

I stare back at him, slowly crinkling my nose in disgust at him.

He lets go of my wrist.

I enter the room, and look at Hannah's bed.

"Astrid?..." she whimpers. She raises a hand toward me, tears streaming down her pale face.

I hurry over to her, and lean down, grabbing her in a gentle hug, and kissing her forehead and cheek. "Hey, Banana..." I mutter through my own tears, "...hey...I'm here now..."

She's sobbing, grabbing my hand as I sit down on the chair that is next to her bed. She looks down at my arm, eyes widening a little. "What happened...?" She mutters, running her fingers across the rough surface of the cast.

I gently grab her hand with both of mine. "Don't worry, honey..." I mutter, glancing at Eddie as he walks up next to me, leaning against her bed, placing a hand on my shoulder.

He smiles a little. "Astrid fought the monster," he says, "got some battle scars from it, but..." he tilts his head a little. He smiles at me.

I smile back, chuckling.

Her eyes widen a little. "Woah..." she mutters. Fresh tears then well up and start flowing down her face again. "I tried to get to you, Astrid..." she mutters, "...I got lost...I'm so sorry..."

I shush her, gently rubbing her hand. "Don't you apologize, honey..." I mutter, "...I'm not angry at you...I'm just glad you're back okay..."

She nods a little. She looks up at Hopper. "Thank you Mr. Police man..." she mutters.

I smile, and look at Hopper.

He smiles back. "Your mom give you the envelope?" He asks.

I nod.

"Good," he says, "which means we can get it to CPS as soon as possible,"

I nod. I look at Hannah again. "I'll visit as often as I can," I say, "I promise you, we'll all be together for Christmas, okay?"

She nods. "Okay..." she mutters.

I smile a little, and gently place a hand on her cheek. "You are a brave, brave little girl, you know that?" I say, softly.

"Takes after her sister..." Eddie mutters, rubbing my shoulder a little.

I smile softly, looking at him, then back at Hannah.

She smiles, her eyes drooping a little. "I'm sleepy, Astrid..." she mutters hugging Oliver closer to her.

"Okay, Han..." I mutter, "...you take a nap, okay?"

She nods a little. "Nuh-night, Astrid..." she mutters, snuggling her face into Oliver's head.

I smile. "Nuh-night, Hannah..." I mutter. 

Once I know she's drifted off to sleep, I let go of her hand, and rub my face, wiping away tears. I stand up, taking a deep breath, and look at Hopper.

He has a sympathetic look in his eyes. "She'll be okay," he says.

"How are we going to afford this...?" I mutter, my heart sinking, "my arm, her recovery..."

He takes a step toward me, shaking his head. He places a hand on my shoulder. "Don't worry about that, okay?" He says, softly, "I'll take care of it,"

I furrow my eyebrows. "What do you mean?" I ask.

"I'll take care of it," he repeats.

I nod a little, and step forward. I hug him, my face barely reaching his shoulder. "Thank you, Hopper..." I mutter.

He sighs, hugging me back. "You're welcome, Price..." he mutters, patting my shoulder gently, "...you and Munson did good, keeping the kids safe...this is the least I could do..."

I smile a little, not wanting to let go of the hug. I eventually let go, and stepped back, wiping my tears again.

He pats my shoulder again. "Go," he says, "get something to eat, go rest. Come to the station tomorrow, and we'll get started,"

I nod a little. I look at Eddie, and nod toward the door.

He nods, and waves a little at Hopper as we leave.

•••

"In regards to the case of Father Paul Price v. Astrid Joan Price," The judge says, reading a paper in front of him, "having seen the overwhelming amount of evidence against Father Price, we see it only fit that custody of Martha Elizabeth Price, Zachary Joseph Price, and Hannah June Price..."

I grit my teeth, my hands clasped in front of me, looking up at the Judge. I glance over at my father, standing with his lawyer to my left. I take a deep breath, and look at the judge again.

"...will fall to Astrid Joan Price," The judge says, tapping his gavel on the table top in front of him, then looks at me, "the case worker you consulted with will have more of the details, but as of now, full custody will fall to you on December 22nd," a faint smile shows on his face.

I sigh, a smile starting to spread across my face. I nod, and turn away from the podium in front of me as bailiffs help escort to Judge out of the courtroom, and other people in the room start to leave.

Behind me, Joyce is beaming, Zach's friends and their families all sitting behind me.

"Astrid!" Zach cheers, leaping to his feet, rushing toward me, "You did it!"

I catch him, hugging him. "Did you ever doubt me, bud?" I laugh. I grab his shoulder and look from him to Martha, to Hannah sitting in a nearby seat. "Now, I've got a job for you guys, okay?" I say, "You know mine and Eddie's address, right?"

They all nod.

"Good," I say, "I want you guys to write out what you want in your rooms, and what you'd want for Christmas, okay?"

They all look surprised, and look at each other.

I smile a little. "Send me the lists in letters, okay?" I say, then look at Martha, "One of you help Hannah write hers,"

Zach nods. "Absolutely," he says.

"We will," Martha says.

I nod, and look over at Amelia.

She smiles at me, nodding.

I smile back, then look at Paul. I let go of Zach, and approached him. I extend my hand. "It was a good fight, Paul," I say, "but...what's fair is fair,"

He glances at my hand, a look of disdain on his face.

"Tattoos aren't contagious," I say.

He scoffs a little, and stiffly shakes my hand. "Just because you won this time," he says, "don't think this is over,"

I raise an eyebrow as he, Amelia, the kids, and the lawyer leave the courtroom. I sigh.

Someone places their hand on my shoulder, and I turn to see Joyce standing by me.

She smiles. "You'll have them in time for Christmas," she says, "guess you and Eddie will have to find a place, and get them presents before then, huh?"

I chuckle. "Know any good real-estate agents?" I ask.

She laughs a little.

•••

I'm adjusting the pillows on the couch, chewing the inside of my lip as I hear a car pull up to the curb in front of the house. I look up, looking at the door. "Eddie!" I call out, walking to the door.

There's a thud, and I hear him exclaim, "Fuck!", then hear his footsteps hurry toward the front hall, hopping a little.

I look at him, hopping and shaking his foot a little. I raise an eyebrow.

"Stubbed my toe..." he mutters, running his fingers through his hair. "Do I look okay?" He says.

"You look fine, hun," I say, "Ready?"

He takes a deep breath, and nods.

I grab his hand, and open the front door.

The woman in a black pant-suit, holding a folder in her arms, smiles at me. "Astrid Price?" She asks.

"That's me," I say, extending my hand, "You're Stacy, right?"

She nods, smiling, shaking my hand.

"Come on in," I say, stepping to the side, "I made hot cocoa," I look out of the door, and see my siblings staring at the house in amazement.

Stacy steps inside. She looks over her shoulder at Martha, Zach, and Hannah. "Well, come in," she says, chuckling.

Martha, holding Hannah, steps in, setting the little girl down as soon as they are inside.

"Astrid!" Hannah cheers, rushing up to me, "Is this your house?"

I smile, hugging her, picking her up. "It sure is, Banana!" I say, poking her nose "and now, it's your house too!"

She giggles a little, and looks at Eddie. She waves a little. "Hi, Eddie..." she says.

"Hiya, kiddo," he says, then looks at Stacy, "Hot chocolate?" He nervously offers.

She smiles, patiently. "I would love to, Mr. Munson," she says, "but I'm just here to see the kids are here safely, then have other things to attend to," She looks at my siblings. "Welcome home, children," she says, then looks at me, "you have my phone number if you need anything,"

I nod a little, opening the door for her again, and holding it for her as she exits.

"Bye, Miss Stacy!" Hannah calls after her, waving at her.

Stacy turns and waves at Hannah. "Bye, Hannah!" She says.

I smile, and close the door. "Let's get you out of your coat," I say, setting her down, and help Hannah take her coat and boots off.

She nods. "Miss Stacy is nice," she says, "we should invite her to Christmas!"

I chuckle. I look at Zach and Martha. "Did you stay with Amelia and Paul until taken here?" I ask.

Martha shakes his head. "We were taken to a foster home in Indianapolis..." she mutters.

I sigh. "Well..." I say, standing up, "...let's settle you guys in. Wayne should be stopping by with pizza soon. Should we start the tour?" I smile at them, putting my hands on my hips.

Zach nods. "Yeah!" He says, looking around, "it's cool!"

I smile a little. "Okay, so, obviously, this is the kitchen, front hall, living room, dining room area," I say, gesturing to the area around us.

The walls of all three rooms are a kind of beige, striped, floral wallpaper, and the floors are a dark hardwood. Arches connect each of the rooms.

The front hall has just a black coat hanger, rug, and stool that can also hold shoes.

The kitchen has a wide window on one end, a round table with five chairs in front of it. The refrigerator is in the corner, then is the gas stove, some counter space, and the sink. The counter is a light kind of wood, with cabinets above as well. Closest to us is a garbage can, with a calendar and phone on the wall above it.

The living room has a French door leading to the back yard, a plush sofa, and tall cabinets that already have some frames on the tops and some VHSs on the shelves. Between the TV and the sofa is a coffee table with a unicorn figurine and a lava lamp on it. It also has a door on the wall opposite to the back yard door.

"Woah!" Zach says, walking up to the back door, "That's a big backyard!"

I chuckle a little. "Also," I say, going to the other door in the room, and opening it, "this is our bathroom. Toilet, sink, bathtub. This is the only one we have, so, on busy mornings, please, get ready in your rooms,"

They all nod, and I close the door again.

"Down that hall is the garage," I say, pointing down the hall past the bathroom, "along with Martha's room on the right, Zach's on the left,"

They look at each other, then look at me.

I gesture for them to go to their rooms.

Martha cautiously approaches her room, and opens the door. She gasps a little. "Oh, Astrid..." she mutters, stepping in.

I smile, leaning against the arch in the hallway. I look at Zach, and gesture to the door again.

He nods a little and opens the door. "Woah!" He says, laughing a little.

I smile a little wider. "Like them?" I ask.

"Yeah!" Zach calls out.

"It's incredible," Martha says, leaning out of her room, "you even included the cross I asked for..."

I shrug a little. "If you want to keep your faith, I'm not going to stop you..." I mutter, gently grabbing the cross necklace I still wear.

She nods a little. "Thank you," she says.

I look at Zach's room. "You've gone awfully quiet in there, bud," I say, stepping forward, and looking into the room.

He's staring up at the wall, above his desk. He looks at me, tears in his eyes.

I smile, and look at it.

It's a flag hanging on the wall, with multiple colored stripes across it: pink, red, orange, yellow, green, light blue, indigo, and purple.

I look at him. "Thought you'd like it," I say, leaning against the doorway, crossing my arms, "you don't need to hide anymore, bud. At least, not in this house. And if anyone gives you any shit about who you are and who you like, they'll have me and Eddie to answer to,"

He hurries up to me and hugs me tightly. "Thank you..." he mutters.

I smile, hugging him back. "No problem, Zach..." I mutter, then let go of the hug, "...now, unpack what you have,"

He nods, taking a step back from me.

I smile, and rejoin Eddie and Hannah in the living room.

"Wuddabout my room, Astrid?" Hannah asks.

I smile a little, and look into the hall behind her. "Why don't you look in that door right...there?" I say, stepping forward, pointing to the door on the left hand side of the hall.

She turns around, still holding Eddie's hand, looking at the door. She looks at me, and then takes a tentative step toward the door. She opens the door, and gasps, her eyes widening as she looks in. She looks at me.

I gesture at the door again, now standing next to Eddie.

He wraps his arm around my waist. "You think they like them?" He asks.

"Zach was literally crying about the flag," I say, nodding, "I think they like them,"

Eddie chuckles a little.

We both look toward the door as the doorbell rings.

"That must be Uncle Wayne," Eddie says, approaching the front door.

He opens it to his Uncle holding two boxes of pizza, and a case of sodas at his feet. He smiles a little. "The kiddos here?" He asks.

I smile, nodding. "Hi, Wayne!" I say, walking up to him, "I'll take the pizzas, if that's okay,"

He nods, giving me the pizzas. He's about to stoop down to grab the soda, when Eddie grabs them first.

"I've got that," he says, "come in, take your coat off, stay a while,"

He chuckles, and steps in. He takes his coat off, hanging it up, and looking around. He whistles a little. "How much this cost you?" He asks, looking at me.

I shrug a little. "Hopper helped out a little as well..." I mutter, "...he said he'd help pay mortgage until Eddie and I both get solid employment and incomes,"

Wayne nods a little. "Best I can do to chip in is the occasional pizza..." he mutters.

"And that's more than enough, Wayne, thank you," I say, "Neither of us expect help from anyone. Hopper volunteered to help, and wouldn't take no for an answer," I chuckle, rolling my eyes.

Wayne laughs a little, sighing as he sits down at the kitchen table.

"Want water, hot cocoa, coffee?" I offer him. I take a step back from the table for a moment. "Kids!" I call out, "Pizza's here! Want to pick a movie to eat?"

"We get to eat in front of the TV?!" Zach says, exiting his room. He pauses, seeing Wayne.

Wayne raises his hand a little, waving slightly.

I chuckle a little. "Zach, this is Wayne, Eddie's Uncle," I say, "he'll stop by every once in a while, buy some pizzas for us sometimes," I look at Wayne. "I'll let you know the kids' birthdays, if you want," I say.

He chuckles. "I don't have a head for dates," he says, "but...that'd be nice,"

I smile, nodding.

Martha and Hannah also come into the kitchen, smiling politely at Wayne.

"What do you want to watch, Banana?" I ask, looking at Hannah.

"Kermit!" She cheers, "I wanna watch Kermit!"

I chuckle, nodding. "Muppet Movie, coming right up..." I mutter, walking up to the TV set.

•••

(Three days later)

I'm sitting on the couch, next to Eddie, watching Zach, Hannah and Martha opening the presents I had set under the tree the night before. I'm holding a mug of hot chocolate, and wearing fleece socks, pajama shorts, and a red and black Christmas sweater I've had since we lived in Chicago, that has Krampus on it instead of Santa.

Eddie has one arm around my shoulders, and is in his usual t-shirt and shorts for Pjs. He's smiling as Zach tries to figure out if the box he's currently shaking is an Atari or not.

Hannah carefully tears the tape of her box, her tongue sticking out a little bit. She gasps as she unwraps the stack of books. "MUPPET BABIES!" She cheers.

Martha chuckles a little, looking at the books. She smiles softly. She goes back to unwrapping her own present, and gasps a little as she does. "Astrid, you didn't..." she says, taking the dress out from the wrapping paper, and standing up, holding it against her body. "Oh, it's beautiful!" She says.

I smile. "Mom and Joyce helped me sew it," I say, "so, I know how to use a sewing machine now,"

Martha chuckles a little. "Thank you!" She says, sitting down on the couch next to me, and hugs me.

"Oh, watch the cocoa!" I chuckle, but hug her back.

"Oh, hell yeah!" Zach cheers, finally opening his gift.

"Zachary!" Martha chastises him.

"Don't sweat it, Martha," Eddie says, "light swears like that are okay, just...don't over-abuse them, okay?"

Zach nods a little. "But, look!" He says happily, "I was hoping for an Atari, but...this is just as good!" He holds up two toy lightsabers, one red, one green. He's smiling wide.

Eddie laughs. "I was wondering if that's what she grabbed!" He says, standing up. He grabs the red one, and playfully bops Zach on the head with it. "En guard, young Jedi," he says, stepping away from him, holding the saber ready.

I sigh, rolling my eyes. "Rule three," I say, reminding them, pointing to the snow-covered backyard.

Eddie looks at me oddly.

"The rules she posted on the fridge yesterday?" Martha says, pointing to the kitchen, "'Rule three: if you're going to horse around, do it in the backyard,"

"Oh..." Eddie chuckles, then looks at Zach.

Zach stands up, and looks at the backyard. "We should get shoes and proper clothes..." he says.

"Shoes are for wusses," Eddie says, opening the back door and stepping out into the snow, carefully, with his bare feet. "You gonna fight me or not?" He asks, holding the saber ready again, smiling his goofy, mischievous smile.

Zach laughs a little, then looks at me.

"If he wants to freeze his toes off, I can't tell him no," I say, "but I'd like to have a frostbite free Christmas, if you don't mind,"

Zach nods, stepping into a pair of rain boots by the back door. He grabs a coat from the front hall, and puts it on. He then quickly walks out of the back door, approaching Eddie.

Hannah climbs up onto the couch with me and Martha, snuggling into my lap, opening one of the books she just got.

I smile, setting my cocoa aside and holding her close. I watch out the back door as Eddie and Zach duel in the backyard.

Once or twice, Eddie nearly slips in the snow, but catches himself.

Martha chuckles a little, and leans forward, resting her head on my shoulder. "Is it bad to say...this feels more like home than home did?" She mutters.

I shake my head a little, chuckling as Eddie is "stabbed" and does a somewhat dramatic fake death, falling down into the snow.

After laying still for a few seconds, Zach looking around kind of confused, Eddie raises his hand, maybe asking for help.

Zach goes over to help him up, but Eddie pulls him down into the snow as soon as Zach grabs his hand.

I laugh a little. "Dirty trick," I mutter.

"Astrid?" Hannah says.

"Yeah, Banana?" I say.

"I'm glad I'm home..." she says, quietly, "...it was scary in the Dark Place...I still have nightmares sometimes..."

I sigh softly. "Well..." I say, kissing her head, "...it's all over now..."

End of Book 1

Continued in "Under Pressure"