Chapter Text
The sky had faded into a bruised purple and sickly gray, clouds hung heavy and veins of furious red lightning struck above, splitting the darkness into violent flashes. They had entered the Upside Down. Murray’s truck rolled along the cracked asphalt leading to Hawkins Lab. The gang stood shoulder to shoulder, preparing in silence for what could be their final fight. The metal beneath them rattled with every pothole. They didn’t know what would happen next and frankly they weren’t very excited to know.
El was sat next to Mike. She had her knees pulled up to her chest and counted the seconds under her breath because it stopped her mind from wandering somewhere worse. Kali was facing opposite her watching. Her arms were crossed, eyes scanning the people around her, a faint guilt gnawing at her. She had almost fully justified involving Jane in her plan. It was the only way. To save all the innocent children and women. To stop these experiments. To stop Dr Kay and any others after her. However, she couldn’t help but appreciate the life that Jane had built for herself. The people that loved her sister.
She shut down that thought immediately.Kali’s eyes finally met Jane’s. El gave her a soft nod. Kali returned the nod and gave a tight half smile.
This was the only way, she reassured herself.
Mike barely registered the lightning anymore. He was listening instead to the rhythm of the wheels grinding over gravel, memorising it. Grounding himself in it. He was so very aware of the risks of tonight. But this was Micheal Wheeler. He survived on hope. On belief. On the promise that somehow, against logic, things would work out. He pictured a future that he had never stopped imagining.
Him and El somewhere far from Hawkins. Somewhere warm. Somewhere quiet. Somewhere with waterfalls and no monsters. Somewhere safe. For her.
It was silly but not to him. Never to him. Still, fear clawed at his ribs. He swallowed hard.
“You ready?” he asked. Eleven didn’t answer immediately, her eyes were still fixed on Kali. Her jaw tightened. Then she turned to him finally,
“Yes.” She said. “I have to be.” Her voice dipped at the end, unsure and Mike noticed.
“Hey-” he said softly, angling his body towards her
“-is everything okay?”
No
She wanted to say that. She wanted to shout and tell him everything that was going to happen tonight. The real plan.
A part of her wanted him to know, wanted him to hold her and tell her not to go. But she could not let that happen. If Mike knew, then she wouldn’t be able to go through with the plan. She knew that he could convince her to stay and she did not trust herself not to give in. So, Eleven nodded instead. Mike studied her for a second too long. He knew she was hiding something but he also knew that she was stubborn like him and she would only tell him when she was ready to.
“Listen,” he said quietly. “I know this plan is insane. I know it feels impossible. But we’ve done impossible before.”
He gave her a shaky smile.
“One last fight. Then it’s over.”
It took everything in her to not cry. She leaned into Mike and he embraced her immediately like he had been waiting for it. She wrapped her arms around him, resting her chin on his shoulders. Taking it all in. She didn’t know if this would be the last time she would be able to. She inhaled heavily. Neither of them wanted to let go.
Then the truck lurched to a stop. The rustling rusty metal sounded behind them.
“All right, lab rats let’s scurry up." Murray’s voice alerted the gang.
The spell broke.
El and Mike pulled apart slowly. They lingered a second too long, foreheads almost touching. Then El pressed her cheek to his one last time.
One by one they made it out of the truck.
Hopper got out first and had started assigning groups Like he always did. They all huddled around and listened,
“Jonathan, Steve, Nancy, Dustin, Will, Joyce, Mike, Robin and Lucas. He said, “you know what to do, you’re all on finding your way into the abyss.”
“Murray, Kali, Eleven. You’re with me. I’ll get Eleven into that bastard’s mind.”
Mike’s face twisted. He didn’t like this grouping at all. Now he had managed to convince himself that maybe all Eleven needed was him to be near her and maybe she would feel less tense
“And me and Kali. We will get Max.” Eleven added, as she turned to look at Kali who was stood beside her, ready. Then Eleven turned her attention around to the gang. Her friends. Her family. Lucas met her eyes and gave a quick nod. Affirmative. Dustin and Will were stood beside each other and they both looked at each other. Grinning.
“We’ve got this right, Will?”
“Totally ready.” Will replied
Then everyone started to move around again
Mike made his way to Hopper before he could overthink it. “I think I should come with you guys” he said, his voice firm.
Hopper didn’t look at him. “No.”
“Why not?” Mike pressed. Hopper finally turned, frowning. “Because I said no. There’s no reason for you to come with us.” he continued to the front of the truck to grab more rounds.
“I want to be there.” Mike said as he followed closely behind, every step piercing sharper.
“What about no, do you not understand?”
"What's the harm in letting me go with you guys?" Mike pressed on
Hopper was already on edge and frankly Mike's pushing was not make it any better,
“If anything happened to her.. I-” Mike couldn’t even finish. Hopper stopped in his tracks. His expression changed. Softer. He tilted his head and sighed slowly.
He knew that fear. He felt it. Everyday.
“I won’t let anything happen to her.” Hopper said as he finally turned around to look at him. His voice was low. He placed a heavy hand on Mike’s shoulder. The weight felt strange to Mike, not unpleasant, just like those rare father and son moments he watched on his family tv on the floor while his dad snored loudly on his recliner chair. Mike and Hopper never got along but it was one thing they could get on the same page.
They couldn’t lose her.
“Trust me.” Hopper finally let out
“I still want to be there.” Mike straightened even though Hopper’s arm was starting to weigh him down. Hopper finally removed his hand from Mike’s shoulder and ran it down his face.
“Fine. If that’s what it take for you to leave me alone” Hopper gave in. Mike’s mouth hung open a bit. He had convinced Hopper. It was a big achievement to him, considering their rocky relationship. He didn’t even want to question it incase Hopper changed his mind so he just give a soft smile.
“But you stay back. You do exactly as I say.” He shouted as Mike was already making his way to the back of the truck to join the others.
Hopper chuckled under his breath as he grabbed his rifle and strapping it over his body. That kid was stubborn as hell.
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Dustin had noticed Eleven’s worried expression on her face. So he did what he knew how to do best.
"You ready to kick some Vecna butt, El?” he asked, playfully nudging her arm with his elbow.
Eleven chuckled. Already feeling a tad lighter. “More than ready.”
“What about you? Eleven replied "with your-”
“-what is that?” Her head tilting to his choice of weapon, Dustin turned to what she was looking at,
“Oh, you mean my super cool spear. It’s very effective” He says as he began to swiftly stab the air around him.
Eleven covered her mouth immediately, trying to hide her giggles. Dustin stopped and joined as they broke into quiet laughter. Then El smiled softly and hugged her friend. She loved Dustin he could always make her laugh no matter the situation. Dustin hugged her back.
“No way, you guys are doing a group hug without me.” Lucas skid all the way over and threw himself into them.
“How could we forget about you.” El said lifting her head up to look at him,
“Well, you’re currently preventing me from breathing so I have a good reason for not inviting you here.” Dustin replied
“Will, group hug!” Lucas signalled Will over
“Oh, come on.” Dustin said, rolling his eyes. But secretly he loved it. He loved all his friends. And every moment with them in this crazy hell of a mission was worth a chance of him being suffocated underneath Lucas Sinclair.
Will ran over and joined in and all of them groaned from the crowded hug.
The rest of the group were watching the kids. It was sweet.
“How come we never hug like that, heh?” Steve gestured to Robin who was busy admiring Nancy’s skill as she made sure the guns were all loaded.
“Robin?” Steve said,
“Robin-” Steve repeated, this time turning towards her.
“Jesus Christ”.
“Okay, where’s Hopper. It’s time to go.” Nancy said looking around for him.
“He’s coming over, he was just getting some stuff.” Mike replied walking speedily over to the group.
Dustin, Lucas, Will and Eleven had now separated from their hug and now were confused that they hadn’t even noticed when Mike had wondered off. Hopper was right behind Mike. He nodded to Nancy, who nodded back. None of the rest of the gang knew what that was about because apparently they now had their own secret gun wielder unspoken language.
“Change of plans, Mike goes with me.” Hopper said
“Huh?” Eleven and Kali say in unison but Hopper did not give them space to make an argument
Jonathan, Will, Dustin, Lucas and Nancy had started to make their way back on the truck while Robin and Steve got into the front seats.
However Joyce stepped forward and cupped El’s face in her hands. “Don’t spare that son of a bitch. Okay, sweetie” Joyce said. El smiled and without even a second to reply Joyce engulfed her in a hug. El just nodded against her shoulder. It was warm and comforting. Joyce finally let go, taking one final look at El. Joyce gave her one last squeeze before stepping back.
“Joyce,” Hopper said.
She turned back.
The wind howled between them, carrying ash and distant thunder, but it felt strangely quiet.
“Be safe. Okay?” His voice was low
Joyce stepped closer, close enough that her hand found the front of his jacket, fingers curling into the fabric.
“I will,” she said gently. “You don’t get to take me to Enzo’s once and think that’s enough.”
Hopper huffed a quiet breath that almost passed for a laugh. “I was planning on at least a dozen more.”
“Good,” she whispered.
She stepped back,
“Don’t do anything reckless,” she added.
He gave her a look.
She smiled. “Too reckless.”
And then she turned, climbing into the truck with the others. Hopper stood there a moment longer, watching until the engine turned on again
“Good luck, guys.” Will called as Eleven waved back, smiling ear to ear. She had almost forgotten about her and Kali’s plan.
————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
A few moments later, the truck was speeding away towards the radio tower.
“Whose idea was it for this one to join our endeavours?” Murray said
“I made the bombs so I actually have every right to be here.” Mike replied “.. who even are you?” He added on
Eleven and Kali looked at each other simultaneously, both very amused by Mike’s retort. Murray was clearly offended and simply walked ahead towards Hopper, muttering something under his breath.
...
The air grew colder the closer they got to the lab. Not the kind of cold that made the hair on your skin stand up but the kind that settled into your bones. Hawkins Lab loomed ahead of them, a blackened silhouette against the bruised sky. The walls were cracked and veined with Upside Down rot. Thick, pulsing vines crept across the brick like infected arteries, disappearing into shattered windows and splitting the concrete foundation beneath. The front doors hung crooked on their hinges.
Hopper stepped forward first, Kali followed without hesitation, her expression unreadable. Eleven lingered for half a second, just enough to take it in.
Mike looked toward Eleven. He reached his hand out slowly, brushing his fingers against hers before fully taking it. He didn’t say anything at first. The lab towered in front of them as they walked through the doors. It was all heavy with memories. Dark and terrifying ones. Eleven’s eyes stayed fixed on the cracked windows and the dark halls.
Then she looked at him.
“I’m not scared,” she said.
“I know,” Mike replied immediately. He gave her hand a gentle squeeze. “But it’s okay if you are.”
That made her lips twitch slightly.
Ahead of them, Hopper’s voice echoed faintly as he and Murray were discussing something about bombs.
Mike leaned a little closer. “Hey,” he said softly, “You’re going to absolutely demolish Vecna. remember?" Mike nudged her just a little, "Then, I’ll be waiting for you right here.”
Eleven swallowed. The weight in her chest eased,
She squeezed his hand back.
“Okay,” she whispered.
Oh, If only he knew.
The air smelled wrong. Damp. Metallic. Like old blood and burnt wires. Their boots crunched over broken glass and fallen ceiling tiles as they stepped into the lobby. Long shadows stretched across the floor, bending unnaturally along the walls that were covered with some kind of dried goo substance in large quantities. Murray separated from the group, making his way up to the roof while the rest of them continued. Eleven knew this path. Her steps slowed without meaning to. At the end of the corridor stood the door. That dreaded room. Beyond the door, the deprivation tank sat in the centre of the room. Waiting. The metal frame was rusted now, streaked with black residue. The plastic covering had been torn and resealed with thick, organic strands of Upside Down growth that clung to its edges like stitches. The water inside wasn’t clear anymore. It was murky, faint tendrils drifting lazily beneath the surface.
A memory flickered behind Eleven’s eyes.
White walls. Bright lights. Wandering eyes of scientists all around her. Papa’s voice.
Hopper stepped forward first,
Kali moved beside the tank, her expression hardening as she looked at it. “This is where you do it?”
Eleven nodded.
Mike felt her grip on his hand shift, not tighter. Just steadier. Like she was bracing. The room smelled like salt and metal and something rotten underneath it all. Eleven stepped closer, letting go of Mike’s hand. The surface of the water trembled slightly. As if it knew she was there.
Her jaw set,
It was time.