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Chapter Text

The wheels of Ricky's skateboard clicked along the sidewalk as he passed by Melvald's. Now that school was out, he had the freedom to do whatever he wanted for the next couple of days. The Harringtons decided to leave their old home for a smaller one, or that's what they claimed. Rumor had it that strange things started happening around the house. There were strange spikey vines growing from the drains that even came out of the toilet. The place was abandoned and condemned, but it had a nice big empty pool for Ricky to skate around in. Hopefully Ripley would show up to the address he wrote down on that piece of his notebook cover.He didn't need to hop the fence either since it had mostly collapsed. There was always an eerie vibe hanging around sort of like the pool was haunted. Ricky felt like he was being watched this time, as he felt many times. Sometimes from a distance he saw a red headed girl with glasses sitting with her feet in the pool and it almost looked like there was water that she was splashing in. By the time he got to the house she was always gone without a trace. That had to be the ghost of that Barbara girl they said went missing a couple years prior.

Music blared through the headphones Ripley had plugged into her Walkman. It would take forever to walk to this house. She was definitely jealous of Ricky's mode of transportation, but there was no way Eddie would be giving her a lift to a haunted house where some girl was rumored to have died. Ripley didn't believe in the supernatural or paranormal so she wasn't scared, but she respected Eddie's request to leave his car free of hauntings or demonic possession. Affectionately, she held onto the piece of Ricky's notebook that he'd torn off and pressed into her hand. Her stomach was doing flips as she thought about the possibility that their hands would touch again if she went to go hang out with him, alone.As she arrived at the delapitated building, she removed her headphones and put them in her backpack. There was an area around the back where the fence was knocked down, either due to rot or some drunk driver. She saw Ricky over by the pool and went to go join him.

"Sup?" she tried to ask as coolly as possible despite the fact that her hands were sweaty.

The blonde skater boy turned around and his face lit up with pure elation when he saw that she actually decided to hang out. "Oh hey! I was just gonna... make use of this here empty void," he explained.

His face was flushed pink from being within close proximity to a girl he thought was so cute, especially without a hundred watchful eyes on them.
He dropped down on his board, but quickly stopped when it felt like his wheels were going to be scraped up by the uneven coating. There was a rumbling from inside the pool aside from the sound of his wheels. Ricky noticed as soon as he dropped down into it and started coasting up along the rough edges. With his right foot he held himself steady and listened, his eyebrows knitting together in bewilderment. It was coming from the wall of the pool that was closest to the house, from behind it somewhere. It was under the ground meaning the basement.

"What's that sound?" Ripley asked, equally as confused by it as he was.

Part of her thought maybe this was some prank to scare her, but it sounded like something not even several of his friends would be capable of. It sounded like something much bigger, like it came from the core of the earth and was connected to everything that existed. It gave her a very ominous feeling and she cursed herself silently for not being able to rationalize it. There was no such thing as ghosts. That's what she repeated mentally to herself as she walked over to the deep end of the pool to listen some more. With his hand, Ricky could feel the vibration on the other side of the gritty cement wall.

"A generator maybe? But the power should be off at this place by now," he thought out loud. He kicked his board up into his hand and got out of the pool, heading towards the back door of the house to see if there was any sign of life inside it.

Ripley followed closely behind him, getting more curious and freaked out by the second. There was no way anybody was in there unless some crazed maniac had escaped from prison and sought refuge in the basement, and she wasn't in the mood to come face to face with someone like that. There was no possible explanation for the sound or the vibrations. She wasn't even high yet. It frustrated her to watch him checking all the windows. She decided to just get it over with and elbow her way through the fragile, already shattered glass of the back door. Her leather jacket protected her perfectly and she was able to get her hand inside to unlock the door.

"Yanno a B&E is three to five years in jail right?" he said unceremoniously. "But don't worry I'll take the fall for it. My idea anyway."

There was fear manifesting into adrenaline as it coursed through his veins. He lead the way through the house, clearing every room by very threateningly brandishing his skateboard as if it were a weapon. Ripley waited like a lost puppy as the boy she liked became five times more attractive by taking entire control of the situation. She wasn't sure what they were going to be defending themselves against and while she thought a skateboard to be a rather crude weapon, at least he had something. She had a little Swiss army knife but it was basically useless against anything or anyone bigger.
There was nobody upstairs either. Ripley looked around the kitchen, noticing that strange purple vines had overtaken it. They were coming out of the sink drain. They looked like nothing she had ever seen before, but before she had time to say anything about it, Ricky was muttering something to himself.

"Seems clear...now which of these doors leads to the basement?" he grabbed a doorknob and revealed a pantry that was full of roaches, screaming and convulsing away from it in disgust.

The bugs freaked her out more than anything, and this place smelled weird. Sickly and sweet like rotting fruit or something decaying that wasn't human or animal. She noticed some smaller vines coming out from under a door next to the pantry that the bugs were completely avoiding.

"What do you think these are from? What kind of plant?" she asked Ricky when he came back over to where she was standing.

"I don't know I've never seen something like that in my life," he answered honestly, his tone as unsettled as hers upon realizing it was something unfamiliar to both of them and he was not just some moron who fell asleep in science class too much.

As she reluctantly pulled the door next to the pantry open, she covered her mouth and nose with her shirt. The stench cut through the room like a chemical reaction and there was a purple glow coming from the bottom of the steps. Ricky felt pretty stupid a moment after he took one step into the basement because his eyes began to water and he felt like he was suffocating. The putrid stench that overtook the air and thickened it with a dank musk was so nauseating that he didn't want to even see where it was coming from.
He slammed the door shut and locked it, throwing open a nearby window to try and air the place out. His vision was blurred by tears as he choked and coughed. He felt like he'd just been maced without the burn. Ripley started to cough a little as well. The thin fabric of her already worn out band shirt was worn even thinner back when her dad wore it in the 70s.

"The HELL is that!?" the girl managed the wheeze out eventually.

She grabbed Ricky's wrist and pulled him outside, not just to the backyard but completely off the property. Now she was touching his face, trying to get him to look at her and demanding an answer, "Are you alright? Hey."

There was a haziness that followed his vision blurring. His mouth was dry and he had a migraine beginning to form. "Wait.. wait," the word tumbled groggily from his mouth as he regained awareness of his surroundings. He noticed she was holding onto him and his breath hitched in his throat.

"We need to tell someone about this. There could be dead bodies down there, a.. a bomb!" Ripley was now hysterical and exasperated, but she let go of the boy's sleeve and handed him his skateboard. "What if the government is testing some weird disease down there and now we have it and we're spreading it! Oh my god!" she suddenly stopped in her tracks, her hands raking through her bleached hair in distress.

Ricky stumbled to a halt and stood to face her head-on. He cut off her panicked spiral with a soft voice, placing his hand on her shoulder in a way he hoped would reassure her, "Rip. Dont think like that. I feel fine. You feel fine, right?" His hazel eyes met hers and the way the setting sun was hitting them made him notice colors in them that definitely weren't in his. He suddenly felt queasy and like kissing her would make them both feel better, but he steeled himself.

Suddenly her mind was wiped as she stared up at him. "I ..yeah. I think so..." she admitted, searching inside herself for another argument and not being able to find one.

He looked good with his hair like that and his scent was intoxicating her, drawing her closer without her even noticing. She bit her lip as she noticed where his hand was and quickly flicked her gaze down towards their shoes as she changed the subject, "We should still tell someone though. I can't believe I'm saying this but we have to call the cops."

"And say what? That we heard a weird noise coming from a condemned property we trespassed on and then broke into?" he asked. "You know what let's just discuss a plan over a basket of fries."

He gave her a pat on the back and started walking back towards town. Of course something had to be done. In Ripley's mind, that was a date and there was no way she'd miss out on that to go hang out with Eddie and his bandmates drinking shitty beer while they played the same songs over and over. She gladly followed along, trying to bite back a smile and retain her composure.

"What do you think it was?" she kept pressing the issue.

The whole thing was just freaky. It was still haunting him as he looked back at the house and swore he saw Barb sitting by the pool. "I don't know, but I think it has something to do with those vines," he offered. "They were purple and sort of had a glow to them that made them. Maybe they're all growing out of whatever's down there."

She nodded thoughtfully. "I think you're right. Maybe it's in the water supply. All the pipes run down into the basement, right?"

It wasn't long before they were at the local burger spot. The boys from Eddie's DnD group were all in the corner having a very heated discussion about Star Wars that everyone could hear. Ricky exchanged a wave with a few of the boys as they walked in found a spot in line.

"You're a good little detective," he praised Ripley in a low whisper.

She watched the boys nerding out for a moment and an idea popped into her head. "Think they might know anything about botany? Like..plant science?"

"Worth a try," he said, causing her to straighten her shoulders before heading over to their table to ask.

When she told the nerds about a strange smelling pest plant, they were intrigued and had more questions that made no sense to her. None of them knew anything about plants besides some basic boy scout knowledge, but the basement really got their attention. Ricky put the order in and was handed a tray with a large fry and two vanilla shakes within a few minutes. He found a table adjacent to the boys and set it down while he listened in on the exchange.
She mentioned the purple glow, the weird humming noise and everything. They brought up the girl who disappeared in the pool, Barb, and they told this crazy story about how she got sucked into a vortex at the bottom of it. Ripley didn't believe that for a second. There was no way these kids knew what they were talking about and were just making shit up. She sat down defeated and started eating. Ricky was visibly amused by how pointless and frustrating that interaction seemed to be.

"Thanks anyways, guys, we'll uh...keep that theory in mind," he said between chews.

The thought of getting sucked into a vortex at the bottom of that pool gave him survivor's guilt, but he didn't want Ripley to think he was a scaredy cat so he buried the thought. Something about how they told their story was very easy to believe even though they seemed to omit a few key details. He dipped a couple fries in his milkshake and popped them in his mouth. Ripley looked perplexed by his choice of flavor combinations, but said nothing about it.

"I kinda want to smoke..." she muttered, sipping on the milkshake. "What if we're sick? What if we have some contagion?"

"Guess you and me better quarantine then," Ricky said with a smile.

Chapter Text

Shoes squeaked along the hallway floors as people were leaving class. The day was over and it was a particularly boring one. Ripley was one out of a few dozen students who were supposed to stay a couple hours late because she made a promise to her mom not to quit the stupid soccer team. Plus it wasn't that bad, they got to watch the boys practice their chosen sport and flirt with them in the downtime.

The golden sun shining through the front windows of the school encapsulated her with its warmth as she walked to the field. The parking lot was empty now save for Billy's car. Ripley made sure to walk fast whenever she saw that bitchin' Camaro, but this time he wasn't in the driver's seat, eying her like a predatory jungle cat as he usually did. Within a few moments she found him under the bleachers. He attempted to get her attention with a demanding, "Hey."Ripley collected herself by taking a deep shaky breath, her chipped black fingernails anxiously digging into the strap of her backpack. She knew he had a cigarette and she wanted one before practice.

The older boy was clearly pleased to see her approaching him. "Got your favorite," he said with an evil, plotting smile as he held up a pint of whiskey.

"No thanks. Looks like it's been opened. You got a smoke?" she said flatly, allowing him no chance to continue his stupid rehearsed speech that he probably told every girl by this time of day.

"Of course," That stupid smirk only got more devious as he handed her a cigarette and lit it as soon as she put it in her mouth. Her stomach turned with confusion and curiosity and he could sense that. "You skipping the dance?"

"Is that how burnouts ask each other to prom?" she joked, cracking a small smile as she inhaled the nicotine. The smile on her face quickly faded as she noticed someone standing over by the fence. It was Ricky. She had completely forgotten that she told him what time she had practice and he apparently took that as an invitation to watch her, "Look, you should probably ask someone else you fucking asshole."

There were a few students hanging out on the bleachers socializing as they waited to be picked up by their parents. Ricky turned to look around just in time to see Ripley talking to that weird new kid who decided to start causing problems around town as soon as he'd arrived. Rumor had it the guy was already plowing the Wheelers' mom while going after Nancy and damn near every girl in all of Hawkins. Ricky felt his blood starting to boil just from seeing them talking. Seeing her smiling and laughing the same way she did with him almost made him skate back home.

Guilt consumed Ripley as she headed over towards Ricky. She struggled to make eye contact, looking anywhere but at him as she walked through the grass. "Hey... you decided to hang out? It's gonna be pretty boring. Just a bunch of chicks kicking balls. Unless you're into that," she tried to joke with nervousness cracking her tone. A sheepish smile broke out across her normally stoic features. She flicked some ash off of the cigarette and took a long drag.

He returned the smile bitterly, refusing to not clue her in on some choice intel. "You normally talk to creeps like that?" he asked bluntly.

She felt like a little kid being yelled at by her dad. "I just wanted a cigarette. You're not my boyfriend. I can talk to whoever I want," she muttered petulantly, excusing herself to join her team for practice.

From afar, Billy seemed highly entertained by the drama he inadvertently caused. He was laughing as he sipped on his whiskey and tucked it back into his jacket. "Hey don't worry! You can have her when I'm done. I don't think she's a virgin anyway."

Oh how he hated that boy. As much as this guy had just become one of his worst enemies, jealousy would always unfortunately be number one. It was probably so easy to manipulate that, especially for someone like Billy Hargrove.Billy was an asshole, but Ricky saw just how evil he really was. Billy reminded him a lot of his own brother and the way he saw Max showing up to school and the way she carried herself, she reminded him of himself. He knew an abuser when he saw one. Ripley probably had no idea so her attitude didn't hurt him too bad. She would have to believe him eventually.

"You better watch your back. Talk to me again and you'll be hitting 60 in an ambulance instead of your little hotrod piece of shit muscle car," the blonde spat. There was no way he was going anywhere, he had homework to do anyways and there was still some sun so he went over to the bleachers and took a seat.

About halfway through practice, Ripley noticed there were a few people watching them after everyone had mostly gone home. She wondered what it would be like to be a cheerleader while she did her pushups. The cheer squad was practicing at the outdoor court within earshot. She wondered if Billy liked cheerleaders better and cursed herself for thinking that, because she also wondered if Ricky liked cheerleaders. If he did he would probably be with one. Eddie said he liked cheerleaders because they were flexible.

"Soccer didn't make you flexible, it made your legs thick enough to crush skulls," Eddie's voice rang in the back of her mind from a previous chat, "But hey some guys are into that too!" She laughed at the memory of punching him in the arm.

Ricky couldn't keep his eyes off of the object of his affections. It was really hard to focus on his homework and he didn't even end up finishing it. He noticed the parking lot was looking pretty empty and the somewhat fresh pavement was calling his name. There was nobody to scold him for skating around at this time and a couple of other kids were taking advantage of that as well. Once she stood up she noticed that Ricky was gone and now everyone was talking about how they noticed too.

"What's with the skater boy? Is he scouting for a date to the prom?" one of her teammates asked.

"I think he has a crush on our little burnout. That means she's gonna become a woman soon! Aw they grow up so fast!" another one of them teased, the acid of jealousy in her voice.

"Yeah right," Ripley muttered with an eye roll.

They were finally done by the time the sun was setting and she didn't see her mom's car in the parking lot. There was no telling if she was even home or if she remembered her responsibilities as a parent, and nobody was in the office to give her a call. She stood outside the entrance of the school, mentally preparing herself to walk home.

The wheels of a skateboard slowly rolled to a halt as Ricky circled around her and stopped. "Want a ride?" he half-joked.

"Ha ha. Very funny. My legs are honestly killing me so if you could push me on that thing, that would be GREAT," she said with a joint cushioned between her plush lips. She was digging around in her bag for a lighter.

One of Ricky's friends skated up and tripped on the curb, abandoning his board and allowing it to roll over into the empty lot, but not letting that stop him from sauntering over. "M'lady," the boy said, offering a flame from his lighter and lighting the joint for her like some sort of loyal servant. "Come on man, you gotta have your necessary survival supplies for your lady."

"She's not my lady. She made that very clear. And you know I don't smoke that stuff," Ricky accidentally admonished.

Ripley snorted with laughter at the goofy antics of this stooge Ricky clearly considered a very close friend. "I'm trying to get on your level, man," she said, eying him up like he was some newly discovered specimen. She instantly felt better as soon as she took a hit then handed it over to the boy as a thanks for lighting it.

Ricky got off of his board and made a grand sweeping gesture to it, "Your carriage awaits... m'lady." He pointedly looked to his buddy as he mocked his earlier choice of words.

She giggled, taking her precious joint back and puffing on it before carefully trying to stand on the board. Her balance was atrocious with her legs being so sore and she chickened out.

"Just sit, I'll pull you," he assured her, pulling a dirty white shoelace out of his pocket and tying it to one of the trucks. "See? Perfectly safe! Chuck Taylor don't make weak shoestrings."

She rolled her eyes playfully and sat on the board, thankful that her backpack was fairly light today. As he pulled her towards the residential part of town he had a smile on his face. He wasn't a little wiper boy like his eloquent friend Mark, (affectionately referred to as "Marky" by Ricky and the other member of their little trio) but he didn't mind being treated like a servant some of the time. Fantasies of tying Ripley's shoes for her danced past his mind's eye, followed by him lighting her cigarettes for her and always making sure to have a pack so she never had to ask Billy Hargrove for anything again. He would make her love him back and love no one else, he promised himself.

After a while of trudging along smelling her secondhand pot smoke, he realized he didn't know where he was meant to be headed. "Hey... uh," he said, turning around and walking backwards, "Where d'you live anyway?"

This was definitely the most interesting ride home she had gotten. It was so cute how he was trying his best to help her with his limited resources. His skateboard really was his whole life and he trusted her to technically ride it. She found herself smiling like an idiot after she had stubbed out the joint and flicked it into the road. "You're going the right way," she said through a sly smile, "I'll tell you when we're close."

"Yeesh! You want to work me up into a sweat that bad I have way better ideas..." he half-joked. She wasn't heavy at all and he didn't mind, but he severely underestimated how bad the shoe lace would cut into his palms.

"What was that?" she asked, a little shocked and wanting to be sure she heard him correctly. Her head was spinning and she felt like her heart was jumping up into her throat.

He felt like he was getting too bold now that the sun had gone down. "Nothin' nothin'. I don't mind. You're just a little thing anyways." Small and fragile, small enough to pin down easily, but he had to not think about that right now. He was just gonna drop her off on her porch and get home as fast as he could before his mom started to worry.

"We're actually right across from the place, I was just messing with you," she told him, pointing to a house that looked rather dilapidated. The lawn was brown and missing chunks and one of the windows was boarded up. There was no car in the driveway and Rip wasn't surprised. She mentally prepared herself to wake up with no one home...and her mom wouldn't care if there was a boy over. An devious little lightbulb turned on over her head. "You can come in if you want."

He brought her over to her own driveway, taking notice of the state her dwelling was in. His mind was clouded by his fixation on his own potential awkwardness when it was time to say goodbye. "Huh? Oh. Yeah. Sure," he said sheepishly.

She stood up and stretched her legs out before going to open the door that was always left unlocked. When she turned the light on it exposed that the inside wasn't nearly as bad as the outside. It was sort of cozy since her mother luckily wasn't around enough to relapse back into hoarding though there were still a few remnants of things being kept for purposes that only made sense to the collector. There were some things Ripley wasn't allowed to get rid of or there would be certain consequences.
The girl took her Doc Martens off and left them by the door so as not to track any dirt into the house. She went on the hunt for some refreshments and came back with a soda, a beer and a half eaten bag of chips. The couch made a series of odd noises as she carefully sat down on it, patting the spot beside her that she left vacant for him.

"Figure you don't drink either," she explained as she opened her beer and started chugging it.

"You'd be right," he said with a nod. He was admiring the place as he snooped around, setting his board down and shutting the door behind them.

Letting go of the doorknob felt like he had sealed his fate in some way. He wasn't keen on taking his shoes off and ruining this entire situation so he just made sure his shoes were wiped clean before taking a seat. He gratefully cracked open the soda and drank it deeply. Something about watching this girl rot her brain was impressive. He never understood why people got high all the time or drank literal poison, maybe he could ask her why she did it.
That thought evaporated the instant he noticed a small trickle of beer traveling down her jawline and her neck. She wiped her mouth across her forearm, hiccuping a small little burp. There was just enough light for his earring to catch and it made her reach out to hold it gently and see what it was.

It seemed like it was silent for an eternity until she decided to say something. "So..."

His heartbeat thudded in his ears as he felt her touch once again. His tongue slid across his lips to wet them and the anticipation was building deep inside his guts. "I'm not religious, if you're wondering," he tried to make small talk about the silver cross dangling from his ear.

"I didn't think you were," she laughed, her husky voice dropping low as she closed the space between their faces.

He claimed her lips without hesitation, cradling her face in his palm. A shock of some deep animalistic urge racked through him and he felt his other hand forget it was holding something. The cold fizzy drink spilled all over both of them and he flinched away from her.

Ripley was very unconcerned with the spill. Her face was flush with the desire to continue eating his face. She grabbed the can and set it down on the coffee table before pulling him back over to her. "Don't worry about it," she excused, kissing him again this time with more intent.

He mumbled against her lips any time she allowed him a second to get a word out, "As much... as I... would love to keep doing this," he panted softly, finally pulling away and pressing their foreheads together with a heavy sigh, "my mom's gonna be ticked already."

"Yeah. You have a mom who cares where you are and that you've eatennnn..and that you get a good night's rest. And that you're safe," she half-teased, running her hands through his spiked blonde hair and holding his face in her hands.

"She didn't always care. She wasn't really around much. I'll take whatever time with her that I can get. And with you. I'll see you tomorrow," he told her, pecking her lips one last time and squeezing her in a tight hug.

She watched him leave until he was just a little speck drifting on his skateboard towards his big fancy house as she finished her beer.

Chapter Text

Today Ripley was brimming over with so much excitement that Eddie couldn't help but interrogate her about that goofy smile.

"What's got you in such a good mood this early?" his voice was muffled by an exhale of pot smoke.

"What? Maybe I'm just taking my education more seriously," she teased, grabbing the joint out of his hand and puffing on it.

"Yeah? What class is teaching the art of giving and receiving hickies?" her friend teased back, pinching at the purple splotch on the side of her neck before snatching his joint back. He rolled the windows down to clear out all the smoke that was now impairing his vision.

"I learned from the best," Ripley said matter-of-factly, "Ricky Dillinger."

"Oh brother! You know he paints his fingernails so no one sees how dirty they are?" Eddie half laughed, half coughed out. He abandoned the remnants of the doobie to her and held his hand out as a signal not to bother handing it back.

Ripley graciously finished it until it burned her and put it in one of the empty beer cans that littered the floor. "You must not know why Robin Buckley hates my guts then because I do the same thing," she joked.

The metalhead was bemused, "You're grody man. Far grodier than I!"

The car was parked and the two of them got out, parting ways once Ripley heard the sound of skaters scraping across the pavement nearby.

Ricky always got to school a little early because his mom getting ready at the ass crack of dawn was so loud, it woke him up. He was the type who couldn't get back to sleep. Now that he was having these crazy fever dreams and thrashing in the night, it was even harder to get some shut eye. It showed in how red his eyes were.The mornings were still his favorite time to be alone, skating around the empty parking lot until some faculty member showed up to scold him. The janitor usually was going home by the time Ricky arrived, but not today. His car was just sitting in the parking lot and that seemed peculiar. The thought of someone stumbling across a dead body later today sobered him from his groggy haze. Eventually as people started to show up, it was business as usual. Nobody seemed to take notice of the car being in the lot, no ambulance or cops ever showed. He'd find out more about it later. The Munson Mobile rolled in and Ricky's attention was suddenly focused on something else, the girl riding passenger in it.He was the only one landing any tricks. Marky was blaming the looseness of his trucks and went to go sit on the curb and make some adjustments while "Roach" bragged about completing a kickflip and then immediately ate shit trying to recreate it.As Ricky noticed the little bleach blonde punk girl coming near he decided to cut the distance in half, coasting over on his board and coming to a slow stop.

"Hey," he tried to say as casually as possible as he resisted the urge to greet her with a kiss in front of everyone.

"Hey," her lips curled up at the edges, giving away her fondness for him immediately. People were definitely starting to stare and rubberneck them even though they weren't in the flow of traffic.

"Do you uh... wanna go to the library with me real quick?" he asked, scratching the back of his neck, "I gotta find a book for history class." He was hoping she got the hint that this was a very important meeting that she was being invited to.

The library was the most private place for a lot of people, as long as they were quiet, and she knew exactly why dumb boys who didn't read wanted to go there. A wicked smirk overtook her features, "Sure, what's this 'book' gotta be about?"

His face became flushed and he popped his board into his hand, motioning with a nod for him to follow him. First stop was his locker where he could stow his only item, the mess of papers was usually in his backpack, then he lead her around the corner. Butterflies were brawling in her stomach as she trailed alongside him. She secretly took enjoyment out of how the other girls were staring at the two of them, some with envy and some with disgust. A couple of her soccer teammates were cheering her on as the two disappeared into the silent, dusty library.
Once they were out of earshot of any possible snitches, he shoved Ripley up against the nearest book case. His lips crashed into hers hastily at first, until his hands found her hips and he felt himself melting into her entire being as he pressed against her. She breathed out a soft noise of surprise into his mouth. His breath was still minty and she made it her mission to steal the taste with her tongue until the bell rang.
"You know I really did want to talk to you," he said after he managed to very reluctantly pull away from her, "I noticed something kinda weird..but...you're really distracting." He pulled her hair away from her neck so he could attack a spot with his teeth that he noticed needed a little more color.

When she felt his teeth on her neck her whole body tensed under him. "Well...we're already late," she made the excuse to hopefully draw this out a little longer.

"Nah I'll just tell you later," he muttered into the crook of her neck, hugging her to him tightly. "Come on. Let's go, delinquent." He broke away from her but took her hand in his, trying to get a jogging start towards the doorway.

She groaned and rolled her eyes, stomping her feet before allowing him to drag her away.

He was sure to leave her with one last kiss to satiate her until they passed each other again in the halls. There was a shock of ecstasy rippling through him that not even Ripley's teacher could put a damper on when reprimanding him for making her late. The satisfaction from her classmates seeing him dropping her off made him drunk with confidence on his short little walk to where he was supposed to be.

"Decided to join us Ricky?" his teacher was sure to make a martyr of himself by wasting as much time as possible announcing the boy's arrival.

"Yeah. Figured I could use the education," he was quick to reply as he took his seat.Marky was in the corner giving him a congratulatory, knowing nod.
Everyone in Ripley's class had questions that would have to wait until later. There was no room in Ms. Devlin's class for chitchat unless he allowed it, and right now she was in the middle of a very impassioned speech about the effects of nuclear radiation. Ripley enjoyed her class more than others, she took a liking to the doodles she scrawled on the sides of her work and would even grade it sometimes or leave little comments like "Nice raygun, but why is his head a flaming skull?" After class she would usually give the teacher an explanation on the lore of all her little characters, and this time when class ended she had to explain why she was hanging out around Ricky Dillinger.He wasn't a bad kid, he got good grades as long as he had a "tutor" to copy off of, but the way he dressed seemed to upset the locals. He was apparently known to have a disregard for other peoples' physical safety, but that was probably just his ADHD taking hold whenever he got on that damn skateboard. It had more of a hold on him than booze had a hold on Ripley's entire bloodline all the way back to Ireland. Ms. Devlin just wanted to make sure Ripley didn't make a habit of showing up late to class, but she was stuck in that mini lecture so long that she missed her chance to see Ricky until the only class they shared together.
Ricky was a little sad not to see her while they had a few moments of free time. He'd gone to his locker to get a little present for her and was eager to see her reaction and hear her thoughts once she gave it a listen. Second period was dragging by and he figured he would kill some time by taking an abnormally long bathroom break. His prepared excuse was already that he ate something he shouldn't have, in case anyone asked why his hall pass was expired because it surely would be. It was from last week and had been through the wash twice.The halls were vacant aside from a couple of police officers talking to the principle. There was no way to be secretive in such an echoey spot. Ricky heard a little something that seemed like it could have been pertaining to the janitor and hid around the corner.

"His car's been here for the past couple of days. Nobody called. He doesn't seem like the type of guy to just skip town," Mrs. Prescott was rambling on as one of the officers scribbled on a little notepad.

The stockier officer who, by the looks of it couldn't be trusted to take notes, was receptive. "Do you think he was caught up in any gambling?" he asked.

The older woman's forehead wrinkled as she searched her mind for any hint the officer's could use, "I wouldn't know I mean I..I don't think so?"

Ricky turned on his heel and continued on his way to the bathroom. It smelled faintly like something had died in the walls and as soon as that smell hit his nostrils it gave him a pounding headache. He blurted out a pained noise suddenly through clenched teeth, kneading the heel of his fingerless gloved hand into his temple. He leaned heavily against the sink for a moment as he reeled. Finally when his eyes snapped back open he looked at himself in the mirror and noticed himself detached from the his reflection. It wasn't moving when he jolted away from the sink, rather staying put and staring right at him.Now the bathroom was cast in this dingy blue color and it was decaying around him, but in the mirror's reflection it looked normal. The sound of pipes bursting started to fill the room along with thick green sludge and those fucking vines. He felt the spikes digging into his pantlegs and started screaming. Ricky was backing out of the bathroom as the tendrils stretched and crawled across every surface, towards him. He felt his back hit another person's chest and whipped around right as he was frantically tugging at his baggy pantlegs.

"You good?!" it was Eddie and he had moved into some kind of martial arts self defense stance.

Ricky was panting and sweating as he looked around the room to see it devoid of any weird shit. "N..nah I ...I mean yeah. I guess so," the words came tumbling out with confusion and bewilderment.

"You were screaming," the metalhead recapped.

"Yeah I thought I saw something coming out the drain." That wasn't even technically a lie.

Eddie's eyes bulged out of his head as he let his guard down and pushed past the blonde in an attempt to excuse himself from this awkward exchange, "I want whatever you're smoking man."

Ricky was almost out of earshot when he heard the upperclassman yell "Oh SHIT!"

"You see it?! You see that shit! Tell me I'm not crazy, please," Ricky seemed relieved as he went to go see what Eddie had found.

"What is that?!" the metalhead was freaking out like an old lady who'd just seen a mouse. There were some vines coming up out of the toilet that were definitely alive from the way they were pulsating.

"That's the question me and Rip have been pondering all weekend," Ricky said, folding his arms.

Eddie looked like he was about to void his reason for being here out of both ends and was quickly backing away, "Nah I don't like that. I don't like that at all. Fuck this. I'm going outside." The shaggy haired boy grabbed plenty of toilet paper before rocketing out of there.

Ricky didn't stick around long at all in case those hallucinations started. He was sure that whatever this weird thing was had gotten him very sick. Thoughts swirled of having to go to a doctor or a shrink. An eternity of vaccinations and blood tests stretched on in front of him and he felt himself start to panic. The bell was ringing as he was sauntering mindlessly through the hall towards his next class. Ripley saw Ricky's hair before she noticed the state he was in. Concern painted her face under her dark makeup as she weaved her way through the other students to get to him.

"Are you sick?" she asked once she had caught up enough to get in front of him before they reached their class.

"That's a rather personal question, don't ya think?" he said dismissively. "I'm fine. Just didn't get enough sleep so I'm a little delirious is all." He didn't know how bad he looked after having more exposure to that thing in the bathroom. His eyes were red, his skin was pale and he was trying to keep from coughing as soon as he took his seat.

Ripley sat beside him, sliding her backpack down her arm onto the back of her seat. "You look dead," she told him, "You should go to a hospital."

"You better go with me then because I definitely infected you," he said, sticking his tongue out at her. He took the cassette tape out of his pocket and slid it over to her, hoping it would change the subject.

She dropped it for now, but this wasn't over. She grabbed the tape in her hand, marveling at the crudely drawn cover art. "Where did you get this?"

"I decided to run away from home last summer and stayed with a friend in Chicago until the cops found me and brought me back to my mom in cuffs," Ricky decided to dump some of his lore on her real quick, "She basically payed them off not to take me to jail. But yeah my buddy sends me tapes if I send him some money in the mail. I sent him a Corroded Coffin tape, but he said it sounded like it was being played underwater."

"Lucky. My mom gave birth to me there and then my dad got us kicked out of our apartment so we had to live with my grandparents. That's actually their house that I live in now." She wanted to go back home so bad after hearing about it and touching something that was sent from there.

"Maybe we can go back. Take the bus," he suggested. The thought of running away with her was infinitely more exciting than when he did it alone.

Chapter Text

Ripley was waiting for her mom to pass out on the couch so she could take Ricky to the drive-in. Eddie refused to lend her the van. He had been acting really weird since the two of them started spending more time together. Apparently there was some drama between Ricky and Eddie's ex girlfriend and it wasn't like Ripley and Eddie hadn't had their drunken interactions when left alone once or twice. Things were very awkward now and nothing could really be done or said about it, but everyone knew.

Once she heard snoring and no movement, Ripley went to grab the keys and headed out with a ton of pillows and blankets. Ripley was a pretty good driver from having to give her mother rides to some of her very important appointments, even at night. Nobody suspected a thing as she made her way to Ricky's McMansion and pulled in the driveway. She decided to take the opportunity to put the seats down and get things somewhat situated for maximum comfort while she waited for him to come outside.
Ricky had spent at least an hour longer than his appearance than he usually did. He had to make sure his hair looked like he hadn't done anything to it and he even showered. Explaining to his mother that he was going to be gone all night was not the easiest thing to do. She had to be sure that this girl was fit to be hanging out around her son so she came outside with him to meet her.
She was a good looking woman, on the younger side of thirty so she must have had him right out of high school. Her clothes were expensive and so was her jewelry. She had red hair and crystal blue eyes and her makeup still looked perfect for this time of night.

"Sorry for what's about to happen," the boy warned his date as his mom came down the front porch steps.

"Hello! Ridley is it?" she guessed once she got over to them to nosily poke around in the car.

Ripley sort of laughed in disbelief, "Close. Ripley. My dad really likes circus freaks. Guess I remind him of one!" She was amused by how uncomfortable Ricky probably was at witnessing this meeting.

His mother gave Ripley the once and twice over, taking note of her outfit and makeup, "Well you two seem...like you have a lot in common!" Her smile proved she was being genuine or at least Ricky hoped so because the only thing evident on his face was the color red.

"We better get goin' if we wanna get a good spot, eh?" he hinted in an attempt to escape this.

"Oh of course!" his mother said, giving him a death grip hug and staining his cheek with her bright red lipstick. He wiped at it with the sleeve of his denim jacket as he got into the passenger's seat.

Ripley waved goodbye and shut the back gate before hopping into the driver's seat and giving Ricky a quick, reassuring peck on the lips. "She seems nice," she said as she took the car out of park and started off towards the west edge of town.

"She can be. I guess," was all he said in regards to his only living family member before quickly changing the subject, "I'm glad we get to spend some time together though."

"Me too," she says with a smile. The tape he gave her was waiting in the cassette player and she pressed it in. It started in the middle of track three as she reached over to grab his hand. The drive allowed just enough time for a couple of songs to play as they arrived at their destination and had to wait in line and find parking. The dumbest smile was plastered across Ricky's face the entire drive there and the anticipation was building with each car in front of them that was let inside.

"Snacks?" she asked as the engine lulled, hoping he would say yes because she needed popcorn.

It was almost like they were adults with actual freedom, if only for one night. He insisted on paying for the tickets with the wad of cash his mother gave him and of course intended to spoil her with sugary and salty trash from the concession stand. Once she got as good of a parking job as she was gonna get Ripley changed the radio station so the previews could play.

She got out and grabbed a hold of the boy's hand and dragged him over towards the alluring scent of butter, "C'mon Mr. Moneybags we got a great spot!"

"Jeez, you eaten today or nah?" he asked through a smile. He laughed at her and then the crookedness of the car once he caught notice of it, lacing their fingers together and squeezing her hand tightly.

"You know my mom doesn't feed me," she cooed, nuzzling up to him as they stood in line making knots with their fingers.

She was fully prepared to pig out, especially now that she saw the options. They seemed to have everything from soft pretzels to candy to slushies. Surely something here would satisfy her. A few of the Hellfire boys were congregating around Eddie and the hotdog topping station. They were making a mess that everyone would have to deal with. Ripley waved to the metalhead with her free hand and he waved back half-heartedly when he noticed who she was clinging to.
Ricky rolled his eyes and slid his arms around her from behind so he could fully become enveloped by her attention and drown out everything else in that room.

He handed her a twenty dollar bill and kissed her on the cheek, confidently muttering, "Get whatever you want."

Her face lit up and she took his offer as soon as the poor acne ridden kid behind the counter asked what she wanted. A bunch of candy, a slushie and of course the greasiest popcorn they were legally allowed to serve. Luckily it all came in a flimsy cardboard box to carry that she held like precious, fragile cargo as she started to eat.

"Want me to carry that?" Ricky asked, holding the door open for her and sucking down his own slushie. He got brainfreeze right as he made eye contact with Eddie and decided to just take the initiative and grab the stuff from his date. At least he would make sure nothing spilled.

"Remember why he paints his nails, Rip," Eddie warned her before she pushed herself through the door and out into the night air. Now that her hands were free she lit a cigarette. Popping the trunk open, she climbed inside and leaned over the front seat to turn the radio up.

The sun was just now starting to set enough for everything to be concealed in darkness, but Ricky was glad they had started projecting something on screen to allow him a perfect view of her bending over. He carefully crawled in alongside her and put the bounty of refreshments somewhere safe. Once the volume was perfect she settled into the little nest of pillows she made for them, giving his arm no choice but to be around her shoulders as she rested her head on his chest.

"Oh..wait...I should finish this," she said in reference to her cigarette. She puffed on it until it was almost done and flicked it into the mud outside before scooting back and resuming her previously very cozy position.

"All is as it should be," he said with a sigh, pressing a soft kiss to her temple. "You really know how to set the mood. Very cozy," he praised, running his hand through her hair and tucking it behind her ear.

She tried to bite back a small smile, "Wouldn't be cozy without you." Just as she leaned in close enough for their lips to brush there was a knock on the side of the car and her eyes rolled back into her skull.

It was Eddie. Of course it was Eddie. He didn't seem too embarrassed to be interrupting the moment either, but he was handing her a fat joint that was already lit.

"You guys wanna burn one?" he asked, his voice strained as he held in the smoke.

Ripley couldn't refuse the offer, as comfortable as she was.

Ricky was starting to get pissed by Eddie's continuous presence and he couldn't tell if that was intentional on the headbanger's part or if it was just his own jealousy festering. The two boys had an odd relationship already and anyone older and cooler was obviously a threat, especially having known Ripley for longer.

"I got the kids with me so I can't hotbox the Coffin or else I'd say we all hang in there," Eddie explained, "Otherwise I'd say we all party in there! But you guys got a pretty nice setup in here..." he looked inside, nodding appreciatively.

"Thank you," Ripley said with a proud smile as she handed the joint back.

Watching them hand that thing back and forth lit a small impulsive flame in Ricky. He sat up and went to go grab it from her, taking a few puffs and holding them in without flinching. She watched him in shock, mouth agape as she handed the joint back to Eddie. Her eyes were wide too as she watched him bust up and start to cough.

"You...smoked." It was more of a statement to confirm she wasn't going crazy.

"What's wrong with that?" Eddie asked, flicking some ash and taking another hit. Dustin was calling his name in the distance and he turned around to hold up his pointer finger, signifying he'd be just a moment.

"He just..doesn't do that. Ever," Ripley explained.

"First time for everything, right?" Ricky coughed out, sipping on his red icy drink to soothe his throat, "Wow that's good shit!" There was a pause as he sipped, "And so is this. Wow."

Ripley got a slight sense of dread, expecting her date to be a complete lightweight and start acting goofy all night.

"Well you know maybe you shouldn't have all your first times in one day, try and space that shit out so you can really enjoy it all," Eddie offered his unwarranted advice in case there were some grave implications towards what remained of his little blonde friend's innocence. Dustin was still calling his name and he left Ripley with the joint and something else from his pocket that caused her to gasp and punch him in the arm. Ricky watched the exchange with curiosity that was heightening by the second as he felt his mind become elevated.
Ripley and Eddie sort of wandered off towards his parking spot, bickering about whatever the item was until he shoved it in her coat pocket and ran off to safety of the van. Ripley returned, flush in the face like she'd just been slapped. Maybe something was said that offended her, or at least that's what it looked like. The movie was about to start and he felt funny, like everything was funny, especially the look on her face.

"What's going on?" he laughed.

"Shhh," she said, kissing him softly before starting to stress-feed herself popcorn.

The screen went black and opened up on a scene of a man returning home from a long trip. Something was very wrong with the town he was arriving at and the cab driver was explaining that. The man taking the cab was revealed to be none other than Alice Cooper and everyone in the audience honked their car horns and cheered. Alice Cooper said he's only returning because he's filming a music video, per his girlfriend's suggestion.
Ricky felt a sense of cosmic connection to the main character even within the first few minutes of the film, it was ominous. His hands brushed against Ripley's in the greasy, striped bag of popcorn as he started to quell the suddenly ravenous hunger inside him.

The next morning Ricky's friends noticed he had a little more confidence than usual and they assumed they knew exactly why.

"So how was it?" Marky prompted, lightly knocking his fist against Ricky's chest.

"Pretty good movie...I guess. No clue how it ended, but it started off great!" Ricky was half-bragging to his two loyal companions while he used a mirror on his locker door to fix his hair.

"Wasn't it a double feature?" Roach taunted.

Ricky only faltered for a moment, but was convinced he knew how to accomplish a smooth recovery, "...oh. Was it? Guess I was too distracted."

Ripley noticed him all the way from her own locker. His buddies certainly looked entertained with whatever he was saying and it sent a wave of embarrassment through her. She locked her mess of belongings up and went over to investigate. Right when she was within earshot she thought she heard him telling them details that were meant to be between them. She stood right behind his locker door, waiting for him to close it and see her.

"I think I'm gonna get a car of my own, maybe then I-" the boastful smile on his face quickly dissipated when he shut the locker and was face to face with Rip instead of his own reflection.

His friends snorted with laughter and scooted off in an attempt to give the two some privacy.

"Maybe then you...can...do what exactly?" she asked, making vague motions with her hands like she was trying to fish an answer out of him.

"Wouldn't you like to know!" he said nervously as he reset his lock. His voice dropped to a low whisper, "Look I wasn't telling them anything happened."

She folded her arms and her voice went deadpan, "Good because you'd be lying."

Right when he was about to respond to her a basketball made a resounding bang behind him before returning to the owner's hands. "Trouble in paradise, freaks?" a disembodied male voice chided, accompanied by a few giggles. The loud noise made Ripley flinch but it didn't stop her from flipping them all off. Ricky grabbed onto both of Ripley's hands, pulling her around the corner to a less populated spot. She felt like the ground was crumbling away from them as he lead her away from it. He laced their fingers together which somehow made it impossible for her to not look him in the eyes when he spoke, "I'm not some guy who's gonna use you and then laugh about it with all his buddies. And honestly, they wouldn't laugh. They'd think I was an asshole and then Marky would be trying to fuck you until we graduated."

He was almost convincing, almost. She snorted with contemptuous laughter, "That's cute how you think anyone but you is graduating out of the three of you."

"You have a lot of faith in a guy who's had four concussions," he noticed aloud, squeezing her hands.

"It's about to be fiiive~!" she said through a very forced smile. She pulled him close to her and her arms slid around his neck, so she could kiss his cheek. The bell would ring any minute and she wasn't going to let him make her late again.

He picked her up so her feet were off the ground for a moment, peppering her face with kisses. "Yeah yeah, do your worst pipsqueak," he teased as he playfully shoved her in the direction of the class she was supposed to be in.

Chapter Text

The nightmares were keeping Ricky up again tonight. It had been a week since he opened the door to that basement and now he kept having recurring dreams of going back into the house. Each time what he saw down there was worse and each time it was burned into his mind even more. Ricky's sheets were stuck to his body with sweat as he threw himself out of his own bed and onto the floor. He had been thrashing again and now he had more bruises than usual. The clock said it was nearly 4AM.
Curiosity was pulling him, urging him to get dressed and leave to see what was down there. The dormant house had a rather ambient purple glow coming from within. Ricky hopped off his skateboard and tucked it under his arm as he headed through the backyard. The door was left open, but he didn't bother to check if the place was occupied. He was headed straight for the basement where the vines had now almost completely overtaken the entryway.
The thorns hurt his hands, but it was almost like he didn't notice the searing pain as tore through them, urged by an aching desire to become one with whatever was down there. He kicked his skateboard down the hall to be able to open the door. Suddenly a bright magenta light erupted into the hall, illuminating steps that were almost entirely consumed by throbbing spiked tendrils. Ricky felt heat coming from below as he slowly made his way through the hanging vines. A part of his flannel snagged on a spike and he abandoned it there.
The light faded once he reached the cement bottom of the basement. There was only a big dark void, beckoning for him to step inside with the whispers of what he was sure were messages meant only for him. As he stepped inside, the fleshy gateway behind him pulsed itself shut. Where he should have felt alarmed, he felt encouraged to continue through this other world.
As he clotheslined more thick vines out of his way he noticed that the house was exactly the same as he was going up the stairs, only everything was mirrored and far more overgrown and decayed. Ascending the steps caused them to creak. Ricky could feel some kind of alien vermin crawling past his feet the entire way through the hall and into the backyard. The pool was full of black water and there, on the diving board, was Barb. Her flesh was blue and bloated, layers separated by chlorinated water and bacteria. Her gaze was aimed at the water until she saw movement and her blank dead eyes froze him in his place.

"Look at the sky," she said, pool water falling out of her mouth like a faucet so her words were gargled.
Ricky hesitated as anxiety started to build in the pit of his stomach. When he looked up, everything went black.

When he awoke, he heard a steady slow beeping. As he opened his eyes, he saw that he was hooked up to a bunch of tubes. He was in a hospital covered in scrapes and bruises and he had missed two entire days of school by the time he was conscious. His mother had been with him until an hour ago, according to the nurse. She couldn't miss anymore work since using up all her vacation time. Roach and Marky had even come to visit and left him the most radical balloons they could find along with a girly one for good measure. Everyone at Hawkins was aware of where he was, but they weren't told why he was here.
The strange flu-like symptoms Ricky had been experiencing only became worse as he ignored them. He was deathly pale, clammy to the touch and had this awful cough. Not to mention the mental aspect. There were tests being run on him that resulted in more confusion for the lab techs and doctors. Still no explanation as to why he felt this way, but he wasn't telling them the whole truth. Their treatments weren't really working by the looks of it.

Ripley had been home feeling quite sick herself, though she recovered unnaturally quickly. It was some of the worst nausea of her life combined with fatigue, aches and hallucinations. When she heard the news that her lover was hospitalized, she decided to take the day off. The sterile smell of the hospital was almost acidic for some reason. Ripley was storming through the hall with intent towards the room the lady at the desk told her Ricky was supposed to be in. As she turned the corner into his room her shoes squeaked. She stopped and stared at him, her backpack over one shoulder as rage burned silently behind her eyes.
His sickly face lit up when he saw Ripley, as angry as she obviously was. "Hey!" he said in a hoarse voice.

"What the hell is going on?" she interrogated him, setting her bag down in the empty chair beside his bed and going to look over his chart. There was just a bunch of things crossed out and corrected with question marks everywhere. She put it down and turned her attention to him, "You better not be fucking dying on me."

"I'm not gonna die, Rip," he said offhandedly. He was taking all of this surprisingly well even though it did subconsciously scare the shit out of him how his mind was playing tricks on him. He wasn't even convinced he was sick. The hospital was his least favorite place to be and he avoided it, ironically, like the plague. "You may not wanna get too close to me if you didn't already get it," he warned her despite how badly he wanted to give her a kiss.

She felt like she wanted to smack him, but she held back and decided to squeeze his hand until both their knuckles went white.

Before he was able to say anything, a couple of suits walked in.

"Richard Dillinger," one of the men in black said. It wasn't a question, it was like an odd overly formal greeting, completely lacking in politeness.

"Yeah...?" the boy asked with a raised eyebrow and a skeptically confused expression. Nobody called him Richard unless it was a substitute teacher.

There was absolutely no way she was about to mention how she had also been feeling symptoms around these goons, but she was about to tell Ricky all about how sick she had been feeling lately. She had already promised herself silently to not stop holding onto his hand, thinking it might be the last time she would be able to. And now it may have been if they detained him for breaking into that house. The men in black stepped in closer and a couple more of them entered with a gurney that they began to set up next to his hospital bed.

"Whoa whoa whoa, what's all this? What are you doing?" Ricky asked, instantly panicking from the uncertainty of the situation.

"The virus you've contracted is incredibly dangerous and you're going to be quarantined," one of the men explained. He looked pointedly at Ripley from behind his sunglasses for a moment, "So is she."

A couple of the men subdued the small girl with ease, putting her in a pair of handcuffs and pulling her out of the room to an unmarked van outside.

Apparently the feds had locked down the school after Ripley managed to sneak off just in the knick of time. The Hellfire Club was in the middle of a heated battle in their roleplaying game when it all went down. Eddie ironically decided that there would be an invasion of soldiers right as the team was getting done raiding an enemy fortress. Right as Mike let the dice drop to find out how easy it was for the enemies to break down the barricade, the door to the room flew open and in poured a SWAT team. Instinctively, the boys all got down on the ground with their hands behind their heads.

"Guessing they rolled a Nat 20..." Dustin said under his breath as they were boxed in. Mike and Lucas were unamused.

"What the hell is going on?!" Eddie shouted with his hands up and ring-clad fingers spread wide.

"Stay put. You're on lockdown," one of the officers responded as he pointed a gun at them.

"Man put that FUCKIN thing away for Christ's sake!" Eddie continued, getting visibly more unhinged by the second.

"Are you gonna be a problem?" the wannabe commando asked rhetorically.

Eleven was at home where she was bound to stay, as per Hopper's demands. He wanted to keep her safe from the torments of high school and the lab she had escaped from. The radio was always on since it was one of two sources of entertainment for her besides her boyfriend and their friends. She was working on the English homework that Joyce Byers put together using her boys' worksheets as reference. She was just finishing jotting down the second sentence of a paragraph when she heard a strange transmission mentioning Hawkins High. The girl's attention was captured and she adjusted the dials to get a clearer signal.

"All of Hawkins has been put under lockdown," the male newscaster's voice was announcing, "Everyone is required to stay where they are whether they're at home, work or school!"

Eleven's face twisted into a look of worry. One of the only words she ever said fell from her lips forlornly, "Mike..."

She decided to do a little psychic spying and see what was really going on with her friends. The bath tub was the perfect place and she got in fully clothed, turning the water on and plugging the drain. As she entered the darkness of her subconscious, she saw something up ahead, people. A lot of them. It reminded her of when she was escaping the lab. And they all looked like rats, a panicked avalanche of people screaming and toppling over each other.
As Eleven came closer she felt herself entering the halls of Hawkins High where utter chaos was being subdued, militaristically, into imprisonment for the students. She found Max cowering in the hallway and she looked scared, her normal demeanor nowhere in sight.

"Max?" Eleven asked into the blackness that surrounded them and the armed guards. She had to keep moving and find the others, as much as she didn't want to leave her best friend. The DnD room was just down the hall.

Eleven wove herself through the bodies in the halls until she reached the open door and was able to see inside. Mike was safe, but terrified, just like the other boys. She saw Eddie shouting and flinched when she saw a gun being pointed at her beloved. Her eyes snapped open just in time for her to turn the water off before it began to overflow and flood the bathroom of Hopper's cabin. With that she was off. No matter what her dad said, nothing would prevent her from protecting her friends.

Meanwhile Ricky was struggling in his weakened physical state to fend off his kidnappers. He was put in an ambulance and strapped down like an escaped maniac. The final thing he saw before the doors shut was his girlfriend being carted off in a separate vehicle.

There were a couple other people in the van besides her, a father and son. This setting was all too familiar and so were the cuffs, only the people sitting across from her were wearing masks and definitely not criminals. She was forced to wear a mask as well before the doors were shut and the van started to move.

"Do you know what's going on?" the little boy asked her.

Luckily her patience with children was something that always remained. "I've got as much info as you guys," she said, unable to hide the defeat in her voice.

His attention went back to his father. "This is hurting my ears," the little boy said in reference to his mask. His tiny little wrists were zip tied together in his lap but he still tried to point to his ears.

"I know buddy but you have to wear it, that's what they said."

"Why is that exactly?" Ripley interjected.

The man looked over at her, blinking a few times, "Uh...well we've been exposed. Ben here found a pretty flower for his mom in the toilet and after that she started feeling sick and acting strange. We had her examined this morning and they took her off in an ambulance and they grabbed me when I was picking him up from school."

"They did that to my boyfriend!" Ripley exclaimed, validated by her similar experience. "What did this 'flower' look like?" she asked the little boy.

"Hmm spikey. Purple. Like a snake!" he said matter-of-factly.

"Like...a vine?" Ripley offered as a descriptor.

"What's a vine?" the little boy asked his dad as if the man was the only source of worldly knowledge among him.

"Like the monkeys swing on in the jungle," the man looked like something clicked, "You know? Yeah. It was like a vine. It looked like part of a rose bush or blackberry bush or something like that only it was thicker."

Ripley's mind raced as pieces of the puzzle started to come together. "That's what we found before he started acting weird," she confided, "He said he was seeing things and hearing things and having these... these weird night terrors."

"Yeah..." the father trailed off, his eyes tearing up.

What she said seemed to have opened a wound that was probably still a bit fresh. She decided to end it there, wishing she had some reassurance to give them and eventually they came to a stop after what seemed like forever. The entire time she was worried about Ricky and if she was ever going to see him again. The little boy kept telling his dad he was scared and the dad was just as scared as he was, but had to pretend like he wasn't.

"They're just gonna take a look at us and make sure we're not sick, buddy," Ripley heard the man say as she was being let out first.

There were several unmarked vans all parked outside of Hawkins lab. People were being escorted by the droves into the facility and sorted by names in alphabetical order. They attempted to keep families together, or so they claimed. Older folks and people who were deemed more susceptible to infection were prioritized and taken to their own section. The ambulance Ricky was riding in let him out somewhere in the basement of the building and he was taken into an elevator.

"Hey uh," he finally spoke up from behind the mask they were forcing him to wear, "Did you guys bring that blonde girl here too? Do I get to see her?"

"We don't know anything about that," the men in black said.

"Thought so!" Ricky chided.

He didn't bother to ask anymore questions. They weren't going to tell him anything anytime soon, if at all, not even if it had to do with whatever was going on inside his own body. They had all the answers and they wouldn't give him any that satisfied his curiosity. The concrete halls reinforced by steel echoed and they made everything cold. He was stopped at a sealed door and his handlers began dressing themselves in hazmat suits before being allowed entry. The door sucked shut behind them like a vacuum, much like the portal he had stepped into the other day in that very realistic nightmare. He felt just as much dread as he did then too.The new hospital room he was put in seemed like something out of a Nazi concentration camp even though the tech seemed advanced past its years.

"Wow major downgrade, huh? What's with the alien probe?" Ricky taunted the men who were attaching him to new tubes and electrodes.

They didn't say anything.
"Come on, you're really not gonna tell me what you're doing?" Ricky tried again.

Still no response.
One of the men had his back turned for a moment and when he turned around he was tapping the air bubbles out of a syringe. Ricky's eyes widened as a couple droplets of liquid fell from the tip of the needle.

Ripley was put in her own cell for quarantine. Everything on her person was confiscated and she was sprayed down once she was in a new change of underclothes. Anyone who came into the room she was in was wearing a hazmat suit and they took some samples, even some of her hair.

"You're probably not gonna get much, I fry it every couple weeks," she tried to tell them, but they didn't even acknowledge her.

It seemed like days had passed. There was no way to tell in this windowless, white, sterile room where fluorescent lights were only barely dimmed at night for "sleep". She was knocked out by sedatives until her inevitable release from the lab. Eddie was there to come get her, the only way he knew where she was was because he had gone to her house looking for her and some weird drunken rambling from her mother inspired him to hit play on their voicemail receiver.

When Ripley got home her mom was passed out on the couch, drunk probably after a few cocktails of Vicodin and whiskey. She threw herself into her bed and waited until the drugs that were left in her system caused her to drift back out of consciousness. Hopefully Ricky would be out too when she woke up.

Chapter Text

The small black journal was closed and locked before being shoved between Ripley's mattress and the boxspring. She had a stack of fliers that she spent almost all night making by hand, leaving her phone number for at least a dozen people to tear off and take with them if they took notice. She pulled a cigarette from the safety of its pack with her teeth and lit it on her way out the door. It was kind of cold now so she was thankful Eddie was there to pick her up and help flier. She had helped him do fliers for his band quite enough already, he kinda owed her this one. She squinted her thickly lined hazel eyes as she noticed those miasmic clouds rolling in from the direction of the nearest desert.
Finally she was in the safety of Eddie's shitty little deathtrap. The smell of exhaust leaking through the vents wasn't as bad as whatever was out there. Once they got moving she cracked the window just enough to let her smoke out and not let whatever was out there in. Metallica was blaring so loud that Ripley had to turn it down to even be able to think.

"Hey! Come on. You're smoking up my ride and I can't even listen to my tunes?" Eddie complained, swatting her hand away from the dial and turning it up even louder than it was before.

She rolled her eyes, shooting back with, "Yes. I am smoking. Do you know how stressed I am? I didn't do this to you when Chrissy died and you were drinking that disgusting cheap whiskey until your insides started to rot."

"Whoa. No need to go there. Too early for that shit," he was subdued by his own guilt and turned the music down to a normal volume.

There was a long silence before Ripley finally said "Sorry." She wasn't good at apologies or showing any vulnerable side to her without some amount of feral anger and he knew that.

He focused on the road, zoning out as he fought to not remember the way the cheerleader's body got all mangled up, ten feet in the air in a room he still had to sleep in. He shuddered at the memory, closing his eyes for a moment as he shook himself out of it and sighing deeply. "No. You're right," he said, "It's not fair what's going on around here." The elder headbanger parked at the tail end of Main Street and grabbed a stack of fliers, pulling a red bandana up over his face that was around his neck.

Ripley did the same with a worn black rag she usually wore around her neck before she got out of the van and started stapling fliers up. She reinforced them with some packing tape in some hopes of protecting them from the rain.

"Don't you wish there was some way we could put a message out to the whole entire world instead of going around doing this?" Eddie finally asked from behind his bandana.

"Maybe we'll get lucky and the news will actually give a fuck," she responded sardonically.

Eddie snorted with contempt as he firmly stapled a flier to a pole, "Trust me you don't want that. Then they're gonna think you're some kind of Satanic blood drinker. A little succubus! A temptress of the night! They'll see to it that you be burned at the stake!"

His dungeon master persona always came through in times of crisis. She hated that his goofiness made her smile as much as she thought the bandana was hiding it and the flush on her face. Through the greyish green smog she noticed a figure out of the corner of her eye, all dressed in black, standing perfectly still, but watching them. Eddie's eyebrows knitted together and he tried to see what his friend was looking at so intently. Until now it seemed like they were the only two people on Earth with how smoggy it was.
The advisory probably wasn't enough to deter people from leaving their homes if the shops hadn't been forced to close. He had a bad feeling about the strange figure and went to stand behind Ripley as if she would be the one to protect them. Ripley noticed that there was basically no one outside. A lot of the shops had been closed for a while now since the air had gotten so bad and elderly people were advised to stay home. This place was mostly a retirement town that wished badly to be a tourist trap, so it was hauntingly vacant without patronage.

The black figure became more visible as it approached, a second one joining behind. It was a man and a woman in black suits wearing black sunglasses and black masks. "What are you kids doing outside today? Didn't you see the advisory?" the woman said.

"We dont really watch Teev-" Ripley admitted, but the man interjected before she could even finish her sentence.

"Can't you see there's nobody out here?" he sounded irritated now.

She was a bit caught off guard, stuttering to find her excuse, "My friend is missing. I just wanted to get the word out."

Eddie handed them one of the fliers. They didn't even take it or look at it. "Do you guys know anything about the weird plants?" he blurted out.

The suits exchanged a knowing look before the woman spoke up again, "What weird plants?"

"The..vines? The purple things? They're coming up out of the drains," Ripley tried to help Eddie explain, but they didn't seem interested.

"Look, little girl, don't go worrying about the environment. There are people whose job it is who are making sure all ecological abnormalities are being properly addressed."

Ripley's eyes narrowed, "Well do they have a number we can call? Are they going to make an announcement when they find out what it is? This could be killing people."

"You should probably head home. Everything is under control," the male suit said with finality.

Eddie started to urge Ripley towards his parking spot by her shoulders. "Thank you very much, officers," he said in his best attempt at a polite, upstanding young man voice.

"They weren't cops..." the blonde muttered as she was steered back toward the van.

"Well they were definitely feds!" Eddie whispered back harshly. He tried not to start up the van with too much haste as he felt his stress levels almost turn into full on panic. "They definitely knew EVERYTHING about what we were talking about. I can tell. You can tell that sort of thing Rip!" he was rambling on now as he drove.

On the way to drop Ripley off he noticed they were being followed.

"Oh no fucking way!" Eddie groaned incredulously as he drove past Ripley's house on purpose to try and lose them.

"What are you doing?" she asked, now in just as bad a state of panic as he was. It only got amped up more when she saw the car tailing them from the side view mirror.

He seemed more annoyed that she would even ask that. "Uh HELLO? They're gonna get us!"

It wasn't like she had any brilliant solutions either, but he was older and had done way worse things to break all sorts of laws. Surely Eddie knew what to do, but it was hard to trust him when he was freaking out.

"Well okay but where are you going? They said we can't be outside," she reminded him, her eyes set on the sleek black vehicle behind them.

"We're gonna go on a little road trip, Rip. Don't worry I got a full tank of gas," he said more to calm his own worries than hers. Like some sort of positive affirmation. There was no way they would be followed as far as he was willing to drive, or at least that's what he rationalized.

The sun was coming in through the blinds, casting jagged stripes across her form and that of another. There was an arm around her waist and it was attached to a boy with spikey blonde hair. A silver cross laid on his neck and Ripley knocked it out of the way to attack its resting place with kisses. The boy stirred, coming to life with a soft moan before she saw his face. His face split into five parts that were all lined with spikey teeth. Ripley jolted awake in the passenger seat of Eddie's van. It was night time now and she had no idea where they were until she sat up and looked around. Eddie had put his jacket on her so she didn't get cold. He found a nice place to park at the pier where they were sure to not be bothered.

The longhaired upperclassman was holding a couple paper bags and he sounded delighted, "Hey. We're in Chicago! And I got us some beer."

Being in her home town made her feel at least a little bit better. She was amazed that Eddie's van actually made it there in one piece and that those feds stopped following them. Maybe all they cared about really was them not breathing in the toxins. Or maybe they just weren't allowed to leave that area. Maybe they didn't like that the two of them were looking for Ricky, since he was now government property.
Ripley wished that he was there right now with her and Eddie. She was having a tough time lighting her cigarettes with the wind, but the fresh air was nice especially since it didn't hurt her lungs. She knew Ricky would be there helping shield her lighter while she lit her cigarette. They could sit at the edge of the pier and listen to her Walkman. Maybe one day they could do that again, she thought as she took a cassette tape out of her pocket. She popped it into the little yellow tape player she always kept with her and put her headphones on.

There was a smashing noise as Eddie dropped his empty 40oz bottle on the edge of the pier. At least the pieces mostly fell into the water. He shouted something incomprehensible as he kicked the rest of the glass into the water and was already sauntering over, nearly slipping off the edge where Ripley sat and laughing like a psycho. The commotion caused her to stop putting her headphones on and look over at him.

"Jesus," Ripley said, recovering from the mini heart attack she had at almost watching him drown in the Chicago river.

The headbanger sat up and grabbed the headphones, scooting over closer and holding them so both of them could hear the music. He nodded his head, a very serious expression overtaking his face as he intently listened, "What...is that?"

Ripley took the tape out and handed it over. The cover art was red with a nun hugging someone's leg. "Black Flag," she said, "Got it from Ricky."

"Right on..." Eddie sounded amazed.

Chapter Text

The door suddenly swung open and Ripley flung her journal shut. Her mother was finally home after a two day stint in jail and she needed Rip to blow into the tube that would start her car. She made sure her mother was grateful that she hadn't stayed up all night drinking this time, which was a somewhat rare occasion these days. Her mom didn't even know who Ricky was because they never talked and it wasn't like she was ever in town long enough to participate in society or learn the local gossip. She wasn't allowed at any of the bars and most of the stores on account of all the shoplifting.It was getting so cold now, Ripley could see her breath as she hugged herself in the driver's seat of whoever's hatchback this was. It took her a few tries to get the thing started and the entire time her mom was slurring drunk and accusing her of being too drunk to pass the test. There was no apology or even a thank you once the vehicle shuddered to life and coughed out some exhaust.

"You gonna be gone long?" Ripley asked, making herself small in an attempt to retain her body heat for the duration of this interaction.

"Hope not. There's nothing in my pee!" her mother said.

The car door thudded shut and swerved down the road. Ripley heaved a sigh and headed inside, counting the seconds until she would surely hear police sirens. She popped on the coffee maker and went to take a shower. The hot water seemed to get her brain working and being a little bit cleaner made her feel more human than rot. She tried not to stay in too long because that's when thoughts of that boy would plague her.
Even while she was doing her makeup to go out into the world she was thinking about him and how he would always make sure to compliment the way she chose to paint her face. No one else ever really did that, they would call her a raccoon, and Eddie said she looked better without it...like his opinion mattered. He had been single for the past three years. The phone rang as the blonde was sculling down her black coffee.
It was some kid doing a fake deep voice telling her to meet him at Family Video if she wanted any information about Ricky's potential whereabouts. It had to be a prank, and a very unfunny one at that, but she wanted to rent a copy of The Blue Lagoon on a sudden whim.
When she arrived, the only people there save for a few creeps in the back were Dustin Henderson and Steve Harrington. The two of them were gushing about the latest horror flick "Bloodsuckers From Outer Space" which Ripley would normally be interested in, but the nightmares she was having lately would only be fueled by what they were describing.

"You've seen it right Rip?" Dustin asked with his unorthodox smile.

"I think I'm gonna pass, but...do you have a copy of The Blue Lagoon by chance?" Ripley asked a bit sheepishly, already sliding over some change from her pockets.

Steve's face twisted into a look of disdain, "Blue Lagoon? Why do you wanna get your hands on some chick flick like that?"

"Mind your business, Fabio," she warned him.

Dustin came to her defense, "Hey that film is a classic. It's like Adam and Eve meets Lord of the Flies."

Steve looked thoughtful for a moment as he obviously tried to remember anything about it or if he'd ever seen it. "Also Brooke Shields is a babe," he finally added as he went to go check the inventory.

"Are you the weirdo who called me?" Rip directly addressed Dustin once they were alone and she realized the unique sound of his voice due to how many teeth he was missing.

"Oh! Yeah. I figured maybe Steve might have some answers since it was his house," the curly haired boy offered.

"You think he knows anything you don't?" she challenged.

"Even if he doesn't, I have something that might interest you," Dustin said rather ominously, pulling a book out of his bag that was some sort of game manual. He placed the book on the counter and flipped to a marked page, pointing a chubby finger at the title "The Nydus Worm." Depicted on the page were a few sketches detailing the fleshy, sharp toothed creature. "A subterranean organic structure that is able to interlink across large expanses. They have a whole network underground that they're able to travel to and they're not bound by the same physics as we are...or other animals. They can stretch themselves across huge distances... and Hawkins isn't that huge."

"What... the hell?" Ripley asked hollowly, her hazel eyes going wide. The thought of something like that being under their very feet disgusted the ever-loving hell out of her.

Steve came back with the VHS tape in hand. Brooke Shields and Chris Atkins were on the cover, holding each other's hands and looking deeply into one another's eyes. It almost managed to jerk a tear out of Ripley as she held it in her hands.

"Man you must really like sappy stuff," Steve remarked. "You're sad about some guy, huh?"

"He's not dead," she told him.

His mouth opened like he was going to say something, but he decided not to because that response visibly confused him.

Dustin decided to bite the bullet, "He went missing at your old house, Steve. He was skating in the pool."

Steve's healthy glowing tan started to pale and he swallowed the lump in his throat. "Nah. Nah you're joking..." he said with pleading eyes and a nervous smile.

Ripley felt like she was going to sink right through the floor, uneasily shifting her weight from foot to foot, "He wasn't in the pool. He went into the basement." She withheld the information about how she had joined him, figuring if she was asymptomatic it was fine for her to be around others.

Dustin and Steve exchanged a look, that was when the little bell above the door tinkled.

Eddie was coming by to drop off a few videos he had rented and honestly held onto a little past due and he was delighted to see all his best friends in one place, as odd as it was to see Ripley talking to Dustin Henderson of all people.

"Well isn't this a nice surprise!" the metalhead exclaimed to announce his presence as he went to set the stack of VHS tapes on the counter. He affectionately dug his knuckles into both Dustin and Rip's scalps, throwing his arms around them and forcing them into a group hug. As soon as Ripley received physical contact she was trying to escape it, swatting at her friend until he finally let her go.

"You know I've been calling you all week for these," Steve reprimanded him without even saying hello.

Eddie guffawed, not seeing the big deal as long as he paid the fee. Which he could since he was recently making money again selling pot. "Come on maaaaan..." Eddie said as he released his buddies from his grasp and made his way over to Steve. "I always rewind. Besides, The Mutilator is an instant classic. Gotta be my new fav. I had to watch it ten more times and with my busy schedule and all..."

"Busy?" Steve interjected, "Busy doin' what? You get a real job?"

"You know I wasn't built for labor, Stevie my boy!" Eddie retorted. He was smug when he told everyone the news. "I'm selling this new scientifically engineered stuff from that Russian kid. People can't get enough of it."

Steve rolled his eyes and grabbed the tapes, sliding them across the counter passive aggressively. Dustin's ears perked up, however, and he had questions. "Russian kid... Nik? That guy who grows all the weird hybrid plants?"

Eddie simply nodded.

Dustin's toothless smile lit up and he looked to Ripley, giving her a nudge with his elbow. "That guy might know a thing or two about your weed problem."

"What weed problem? You having weed problems?" Eddie asked, completely unaware of the conversation that had taken place before he arrived. In his mind they meant WEED weed because Ripley's lawn was too dead for even weeds to grow in it. "You probably just need a different strain."

She was amused at Steve lecturing her friend like a doting mother and intrigued by talk of someone who was familiar with botany.

"No dingbat," Ripley said, rolling her eyes, "The weird vines that have been popping up out of the toilets and stuff? You didn't notice?"

"Nydus worm," Dustin said again, showing Eddie the picture in the book.

Eddie made a face at the weird monster on the page, knowing full well what it was from their games. He was still confused though and Steve was giving him a look that implied any further questioning would result in something he didn't want to hear. That didn't stop him though.

"I'm not...following...?" the metalhead said, unsurely.

"For crying out loud!" Steve groaned, "They think there's a giant butthole under Hawkins sucking everybody up and spitting them back out somewhere."

Eddie shook his head like something had been thrown in his face and he was trying to get it off.

Before he had time to ask anything else, Dustin clapped the book shut. "Look why don't you just take us to Nik's place?" the boy asked.

"Us? Why us?" Ripley questioned the freshman. Sure he had information, but surely he had presented it all and was just being nosey now. "He's my boyfriend, not yours."

"Oh so now Ricky's your boyfriend?" Eddie said with a smirk.

Steve couldn't keep his commentary to himself either. "You, dating that kid who's always freaking out in the bathroom? Checks out," he aimed at Ripley from behind the safety of his counter.

Dustin was practically sulking, offended that he wasn't allowed to tag along.

"I think he should come with," Steve said in his defense with great conviction.
She rolled her eyes, on the verge of snapping at any moment and choosing to ignore the all the roasting. "Why should we bring you?" she addressed Dustin, placing her hands on his shoulders.

The boy seemed delighted she asked. Any chance to show off his knowledge of anything was its own reward even if it made him a nerd. "I know a lot more about this stuff than you think. Trust me, Rip," Dustin told her in earnest.

"He does. We've both been down there," Steve said.

Eddie's eyes darted around to everyone before he finally spoke, "Alright SOMEONE has to fill me in on the drive there. This isn't a free ride. This isn't Munson's Midnight Taxi service. I'm gonna need some gas money too."

"Speaking of which, Mr. Entrepeneur," Steve reminded him, holding his hand out and beckoning for some payment, "Where's the money for those overdue tapes? You owe me ten bucks, guy."

Visitors were not allowed in this dwelling that Nik was so graciously offered to stay at by his hero and esteemed local crackpot, Murray Bauman. The cacophony of jeers and whispers that normally plagued him were at bay somewhere in the back of his mind. The only thing that ever calmed them and the headaches that ensued was a steady intake of marijuana. Lucky enough for him, Murray's sense of smell was long gone. Probably eroded by years of partying in Europe.The reek of dankness that remained trapped in the air tight bunker was never the source of any bickering.
Normally the bickering was in his own mind amongst the voices. He strained to hear his inner monologue, the only thing that reminded him of his sense of self, but as usual as it was drowned out in the chatter.
Nik was forbidden, from having visitors, so the fact that there was now a van pulling up unannounced was a huge issue. Murray's snoring could be heard from the next room as Nik scowled at the CCTV cameras the man installed to protect their fortress. He was not going to let them make it to the door and ring that buzzer. Each door he exited through shut right behind him and locked with a mechanical series of thuds and clicks that shut the voices out once he felt the sunlight on his face.

"Now I should warn you," Eddie told his friends as they were pulling up to the driveway, "This guy is a little..."

"Insane? Yeah. We know," Dustin cut him off. "But the man's a genius. I've loved his presentations for the science fair every year."

Eddie gave the kid a weary look, "Just...let me get out first. I'll do the talking."

He couldn't get too close to the place since it was protected like Fort Knox, so he parked behind a sketchy looking barbed wire fence. There was a big red button and he was about to press it to summon Nik from his cave.

Nikolai stood, squinting in the sun as he watched the van park.

"They're trying to take everything from you again" the voices tried to warn Nikolai with a snake-like hiss.

It was so hard to remember things for Nik and being constantly high wasn't doing his memory any sort of good. He didn't even recognize the van to be Eddie's until he saw the metalhead emerge from the vehicle. He saw Eddie going for the button and his hand shot out in front of him, freezing Eddie in his tracks with a bit of telekinetic force.

"STOP!" Nik shouted across the distance between them.

Eddie felt himself tense up and suddenly he was paralyzed, but still standing. "I told you NOT TO DO THAT MAN!" he yelled back.

Nik kept his hand up, thusly keeping Eddie in place until he was able to meet him at the gate, then he released him from his invisible binds. "And I said no visitation," he said coldly. He looked over at Ripley and Dustin who were in the van and his voice took on a faintly irate tone, "Who did you bring here?"

"I'm not stupid man, I'm not gonna bring anyone here I wouldn't trust with my life and I DAMN sure wouldn't do it if it wasn't kind of an emergency," the metalhead said in defense of himself, knowing how bad this looked. The feeling of being stuck like started to make him panic.

"Do you have someone overdosing or bleeding out in there?" Nik asked. Based on the answer he was given, he would make his next decision.

"No, but someone's missing and my friends think you might know why," Eddie answered vaguely in some attempt to lure his employer out.

A voice in Nik's mind whispered something and he flicked his head to the side to listen for a moment.

Eddie was unfortunately used to this, even though he wasn't a very patient person. He had to be patient with someone like Nik though because flattery wasn't going to get him anywhere.

Inside the van, tensions were high.

"What the fuck is going on right now?" Ripley asked Dustin as they watched the scene through Eddie's dirty windshield.

"I don't know he just did that thing that El does," the boy said in awe.

Ripley's face scrunched up in confusion, "What?"

"See this is why you needed me here," he sighed.

This situation just kept getting weirder by the second. She had never seen someone control another person's body without touching them and it scared her.

The voice was telling Nik to go over to the van and open the back doors, so he did. The gate locked behind him with a loud buzz and a thunk-! No one would be going inside today because Nik did not want to have to explain anything to Murray just yet. Though the voices said that Murray could help them too, Nik wrote it off as one of their cruel pranks to get him in trouble, as they often liked to do. The metal doors to the van heaved open and Nik made himself comfortable on a beanbag chair inside. There was a look of disdain on his face as he felt around on the beanbag.

"Needs beans," he muttered around a joint he'd just stuck into his mouth.

Ripley was unsure of how to proceed and after a moment she settled on an introduction. "I'm Rip. This is Dustin. Eddie told us that you know a lot about plants," she said cautiously, as if she was approaching a feral animal.

Nik raised an eyebrow, seemingly unfazed by the situation, as if he'd been expecting them. He leaned back on the beanbag chair, his eyes-half-lidded as he took a long pull from the joint in his mouth. The haze of smoke surrounded him as he looked at the pair of new friends.

"Dustin, huh? Ripley, is it? Well, I guess you know who I am. And yeah, I know a thing or two about plants. You're here about the vines?"

It was like he could read their minds, but it wasn't like he wasn't already studying them or anything. Since the strange dreams he began having lead him to the very location where he was able to procure a sample, he was receiving messages that there would be visitors. He just didn't expect them to be actual humans. He kind of hoped it would be angels but as he smoked and looked at them and a glow started to form behind their heads like halos, he had to tell them, "You are angels!"

Ripley nodded unsurely, proceeding only because her curiosity was piqued, "Yeah, we've been dealing with the vines. They're popping up out of drains all over Hawkins. My boyfriend and I saw them first in this abandoned house, the Harrington's old house that had the mold problem. It made him really sick and he was hallucinating."

"Sick is an understatement," Nik said, taking another drag and exhaling slowly as he looked to her with seriousness, "They're a part of something much bigger, something primordial."

Dustin's eyes widened, absorbing every word like a sponge, "Primordial? Like it was here before anything else?"

Nik chuckled, a low sound that seemed to reverberate within the confined space of the van. "You could say that. Those vines are conduits, channels for something beyond mere human understanding. They're linked to the veil, the thin boundary between our world and the other side. They're a way for something darker to obtain sustenance."

"The Upside Down!" Dustin exclaimed with grave realization painted upon his doughy face.

As his words hung in the air, a shiver ran down Ripley's spine. The situation was far more complex and dangerous than she had initially thought. With the mention of some supernatural realm and the ominous presence lurking beyond the vines, her skepticism returned. "What are you guys talking about?"

Nik's intense demeanor contrasted with the weight of his words as the two listened intently. He could see the skepticism melting away now into trepidation, though Dustin seemed to be a lot less shocked. "There are twenty eight hells and the final one where people go to be reborn is the realm of incessant suffering. It's for people who have committed grave misdeeds. The portals could lead to any one of them though. Like a tunnel system."

Eddie's concerned voice cut through the tense atmosphere from beyond the open doors of his van, "Are you guys gonna need another ride somewhere or...?"

Ripley's gaze shifted toward Eddie, a momentary break from the unsettling conversation inside the van. She exchanged a quick look with Dustin who now had that knowing, toothless smile plastered across his face.

"Actually Eddie I think we should stop by the Byers residence," he responded, his voice holding a mixture of gratitude and determination.

Eddie's thoughtful expression mirrored his contemplation as he decided he was done asking "why" at this point. "Alright. You comin'?" he asked Nik, pointing at him.

A sense of urgency colored Nik's voice as he spoke up. "Hold on," he muttered, shuffling out of the van and running off home.

He reappeared with a leather-bound book firmly grasped in hand. It had papers sticking out of it every which way. Eddie shut the doors and got into the drivers seat, bringing the van back to life with a turn of the key. The vehicle buzzed with a sense of purpose as they started off.

The tires of Eddie's van came to a halt in the Byer's driveway, the engine's hum fading into silence. Dustin raised his hand and knocked on the door, the sound echoing as the others stood on the porch. The collective anticipation was palpable as seconds crawled by. The door gently creaked open to reveal Joyce Byers. She welcomed them all inside with a warm smile, the atmosphere shifting as they crossed the threshold of the front door. Johnathan waved at Nikolai before anyone else, not saying anything as he was in the middle of biting into a piece of pizza on his way into the kitchen.

Joyce called out through the house, "Will! Your friends stopped by!"

His mother's voice traveling through the hall bridged the real world with his for a moment, pulling him out of the world of his own creation that he was currently engrossed in.

"Oh no, Mrs. Byers we actually wanted to talk to YOU-," Dustin tried to explain, knowing that Will wouldn't want to hear about any of this, but it was too late.

Will emerged from the confines of his room where he was consumed by an unfinished canvas. Tension hung in the air between him and Dustin when they found themselves in each other's presence for the first time in what felt like forever. The unspoken distance had grown through shifting priorities of their former friend group.

While Dustin's excitement and exuberance still retained a semblance of familiarity, but Will's silent divergence cast a shadow over the interaction.

"They're not here to see me. Why would they be?" Will asked sourly, "I don't know her. Or him. I kind of know him." He gestured vaguely to Nik, his brother's friend who was often at their house which provided a vague thread of familiarity.

"You're still my friend. Ripley is my friend too. And what happened to her boyfriend is the same thing that happened to you!" Dustin's urgency in explaining the situation was underscored by the gravity of the danger they faced. His assertion was that helping a friend in need was an unwavering responsibility, and there was no arguing with that.

Will excused himself from the conversation to return to his room. His need for space and solitude to deal with his own personal struggle was evident.

"I'm so sorry," Joyce's words carried regret as she extended an apology for her son's angst. Her maternal concern shone through in an attempt to try and mend his strained relationships.

"You don't have to be sorry," Ripley was no stranger to the complexities of teen angst. From what she knew about Will, he was an outsider who loved the arts. Just like his brother before him. She attempted to steer the focus back to the matter at hand, "My...boyfriend," she hesitated, almost flinching at admitting it out loud for the second time to people she knew and would see again on a regular basis, "he went down there. To that place. I've been hearing his voice, but I don't know if I'm just crazy like everyone says."

Joyce's expression shifted from confusion to a mix of concern and intrigue as Ripley shared the unsettling details. "When Will went missing I couldn't shake that feeling like he was trying to reach out to me, pleading for help," Joyce said, her voice laced with dread.

"Mom, remember how you used the lights?" Johnathan interjected cautiously from where he had been eavesdropping. A pang of guilt had run through him when he heard that girl call herself crazy. He told his mother the same thing when she knew that cadaver they found wasn't actually Will and when she herself said she heard him.

"The lights! The lights, yes," Joyce said, her eyes widening from the reminder, "The Christmas lights. We used them to talk to Will."

Jonathan and Dustin nodded with expressions of determination mixed with nostalgia.

*Eddie, usually more straightforward, struggled to find the words to express his thoughts but finally figured it out, "Look I don't know much about this Upside Down stuff, but if there's a chance we can help, then we should do something. Just tell us what we need to do Mrs. B!"

Ripley's gaze shifted from Jonathan to her friends who were in various states of concern or unease. The pieces of the puzzle were slowly coming together, but there were still more answers she needed, "So how did Will get out of the Upside Down?"

"Well..." Jonathan breathed out in a heavy sigh in preparation to remember things he tried to keep buried, "We had to distract this monster that was hunting him. We had to distract it and find the gateway that he originally entered which ended up being Castle Byers."

"The treehouse," Dustin clarified.

"Yeah it wasn't easy. It took all of us working together," Jonathan went on. "And Eleven and her powers. She has telekinesis that she uses to fight monsters."

"The Demogorgon," Dustin verbally annotated once more.

Ripley's mind raced with the horrific possibilities of what Ricky was going through at that very moment. "So if Ricky is down there, it's not enough that he's trapped there...there's things chasing him?" she asked after she had absorbed the information, glossing over the fact that someone they knew had powers and was keeping it a secret. She was suddenly glad Will wasn't in the mood to talk, she didn't want to know any more details that would keep her up at night.

Amid the collaborative atmosphere, Nik's voice cut through with cryptic certainty, "Will...he is going to end up having to help us, whether he wants to or not. I've seen it already." Nik's lips curved into a wry smile, his gaze unfocusing and refocusing on something the others could not see, like whatever it was held all the answers in the universe. "There's more to Will's connection with the Upside Down than you all realize. He has been touched by something. He holds the key to unlocking the secrets that have bound us all together."

Jonathan's eyes narrowed as he absorbed Nik's words, a sense of unease mingling with curiosity. The idea that his brother's experiences could hold such spiritual significance was as unsettling as it was compelling. The botanist madman's words held a deeper truth, one that Jonathan felt was deeply connected to the mysteries of the Upside Down.

"You're talking in riddles, man," the elder Byers finally replied.

Nik's smile deepened as he placed a hand on his friend's shoulder. "The threads of destiny are woven in ways you couldn't begin to comprehend."

Once the kids had been dropped off at their respective homes, Eddie and Nikolai were alone. The pungent scent of marijuana surrounding them and filling up the van as a gentle guitar ballad played softly on the radio. Eddie handed over the joint he was smoking. With a contemplative look aimed blankly out the windshield, Nik seized the opportunity to confide something.

As he took the joint, his voice was low and reflective, "There is something I've been seeing."

Eddie glanced away from the road at Nik, raising an eyebrow as he navigated the quiet suburban streets. "First you're hearing things, now you're seeing things?" he asked, a bit apprehensive.

Nik smiled, taking a long drag and exhaling a cloud before sending the joint back where it came from. "I've been having visions. Of Will Byers, and the Narakas. The 'Upside Down' as our friends put it."

The metalhead's grip on the steering wheel tightened. "Seriously? You've been there?"

Nik nodded, his expression troubled. "Yeah and it's not only when I'm sleeping. I see him even when I'm awake. He's overlapping with our reality, but in a different dimension."

Eddie's brows furrowed with concern as he finished off the roach and stubbed it out in his ashtray. "How is this crap even possible?!" he finally asked, a mix of frustration and anxiety evident in his demeanor.

Nik's gaze met Eddie's with a sense of urgency in his eyes. "His consciousness reaches out to me. I'm probably the only thing familiar to him that has managed to cross the threshold. He straddles the line between two worlds. He may have come out, but part of him remains there just as well as a part of that place remains in him."

Even with his thoughts whirling, Eddie did his best to remain composed. The reality of this already very surreal situation was barely setting in if not for the weed. "You ever see a blonde kid down there? Looks like Tony Hawk threw up in the mall?" He reached behind his seat, retrieving a folded up piece of paper from its pocket. Nik didn't go outside much since dropping out of school, there was a low chance he had seen the poster already.

Nik studied the boy's school portrait on the wrinkled piece of paper, his brows furrowing as he examined the facial features. "It's hard to be sure, but if he's connected to Ripley, I might be able to recognize his energy. I see some of hers on you."

Eddie nodded, feeling a twinge of heartbreak at Nik's ability to see how important she still was to him after things hadn't worked out with her romantically. He tried to keep his voice measured, "She's been worried sick. I could only help her so much, but I'm glad you and I started doing business. You seem like you have all the answers she needs."

Nik offered Eddie a grateful smile, warmth washing over him at the sudden vulnerability of his hell-raising friend. "Not all of the answers. I know where to find them though. It's good to know you aren't alone," he said warmly.

The van ground to a halt in the gravel driveway of Nik and Murray's hidden abode. "Welp...last stop. It's a long drive home."

Nik was still smiling as his hand sought the door handle. As the wind came rushing into the van to suck out the pot smoke, the voices came rushing in too. It had been so quiet the whole drive, even though they normally seemed to flourish in the darkness. The lanky boy grabbed his notebook and hopped out, lingering for a moment as the whispers in his mind stopped so he could give Eddie their message, "We all suffer without knowing the truth."

With that he was off. The door thudded shut. The fence buzzed to allow him entry and buzzed shut behind him as he marched up to the bunker.

Chapter Text

As the sun rose over Hawkins, a new day dawned with the familiar routines of its residents. Ripley found herself nursing a hangover, the aftermath of a night that had been filled with uncertainty and revelations. She stood in front of the bathroom mirror, toothbrush in hand as she tried to quell the queasiness.

Meanwhile in another household, the sound of a heated argument echoed through the living room. Max and her stepbrother Billy were engaged in a battle for control over the TV. Max's determination clashed with Billy's defiance as they jostled for dominance and ownership of the remote.

In the woods was Hopper's cabin where a more tranquil scene was unfolding. Hopper sat at the dining table, savoring a hearty breakfast as he readied himself for another day at work. Eleven sat opposite him, her gaze fixed on the plate before her. Hopper's morning routine continued around her with the smell of freshly brewed coffee mingling with the crisp morning air. Since the lock down, a lot of the businesses in Hawkins were vulnerable to thieves. Hopper's job of serving as a policeman was considered essential, which now required him to actually work. As he buttoned up his uniform and holstered his badge, a sense of responsibility settled over him. His attention was drawn to the TV and the voice that resonated from it.

The newscaster's voice was laced with gravity as he relayed an urgent message to the citizens of Hawkins. "Residents are urged to please stay home and if you must go anywhere, please wear a mask."

As Hopper listened to the advisories, his mind couldn't help but drift to the patterns he'd observed over the years. Times of upheaval, like the one they were currently facing, often brought with them a surge of anxiety and traumatic memories. With a resigned sigh, he glanced at Eleven, then out the window, his thoughts turning to the challenges that potentially lay ahead of them both. Even amidst this chaos, his role as a protector remained unchanged.

Back at the Mayfield house, the battle for the TV remote had reached its crescendo. Billy finally admitted defeat, deciding to entertain himself outside of the house despite the news warning him not to at that very moment.

"Hey, don't forget your mask!" Max's voice carried a sense of vigilance and exasperation.

Billy's retort was swift and unyielding, his words a reflection of his skepticism. "That shit is pointless," he declared.

The phone rang, giving him an excuse to exit the scene. Being the only one left home at this point, Max went to answer. It was Ripley and Eleven was on the other line, making it a three-way call.

"Hey, I want to have a sleepover tonight at my place. My mom isn't gonna be here, she's in the clink again," the bleached blonde punk rocker immediately started in.

Since school was closed indefinitely, the Hellfire Club had taken up to playing DnD in the shed Eddie had behind his trailer. As Eddie was setting up the game, Mike and Lucas were in a heated debated with Dustin on how to wear his mask. Their camaraderie was evident in the ease in which the boys interacted, yet in this time of heightened precaution, the gathering bore witness to a subtle clash of perspectives. Dustin was wearing his mask so it only covered his chin. Lucas and Mike stood firm in their resolution, their masks snugly fitted to their faces in some attempt to embody the seriousness of the situation. Eddie was wearing his red bandana over one of the medical masks since he was told it wasn't as protective, and he just thought they clashed with his style.

Mikes voice rang out with fervor and exasperation, "Lucas, you get it, right? Cover up both the mouth and the nose."

Lucas nodded in agreement, siding with Mike "Yeah, otherwise it won't work. And you're not protected!"

Dustin seemed exhausted though he refused to comply, "Come on Mike. It's not like we're being sprayed with poison. We're in a shed."

"You know how dangerous this stuff is! We all do!" Lucas groaned in annoyance and disbelief.

"This isn't a fucking game man!" Eddie interjected finally to put an end to the bickering.

Dustin pulled his mask up silently, adjusting the ear bands as Eddie commanded their attention.

"Ricky got seriously sick after just one encounter with that plant. He was coughing up blood and his skin turned all pale and blotchy. It was like some shit out of the exorcist."

"YOU DIDN'T TELL ME ALL THAT!" Dustin screamed, his lispy voice now muffled by the mask.

"Well you need to take this seriously," Lucas doubled down, "Because the news didn't tell us that either."

"Guys," Eddie sighed, "I don't think I can play today. My mind is a mess. Not even smoking this shit is keeping my head straight right now." He stomped out his joint on the floor of the shed that was already littered with roaches.

"Yeah and you probably aren't being very safe if you keep pulling that fricken' mask up," Mike pointed out with disdain.

There was a knock at the door of the shed as Max's knuckles rapped against the tin material. Eleven had just been dropped off and ordered to stay indoors by Hopper. She knew that if she mentioned going to a third location he would freak, so Max came up with the plan to have her back by the morning. She was all bundled up like the kid in A Christmas Story, only with more plastic wrap.

Mike, who was closest to the door, dragged it open with a rusty squeak to reveal the girls.

"Nice hazmat suit," Eddie remarked pointedly at the mostly mute girl.

"It's a good call, Eleven. Safety first right?" Mike tried to reassure his girlfriend, but the look in her eyes said she didn't share his enthusiasm.

"You guys aren't gonna play Dungeons and Dillholes?" Max teased Lucas, poking him in the ribs when she noticed Eddie was putting things away.

It wasn't clear whether Lucas was enjoying or hating what was happening to him. Dice and orc figurines clattered into the cardboard box of the game they so fondly enjoyed until recently.

"There's more important matters at hand, Maximus!" Eddie said in a sigh.

The redhead's eyebrows furrowed together denoting that familiar expression of skepticism that made her mouth form a tight little line under her mask, "Like...?"

"Actually, El!" Mike suddenly said with realization upon his face, "You can help." The metal folding chair he was sitting in scraped back across the cement slab that served as a floor for the shed as he made his way over to Eleven to grab her shoulders. "You can help Ripley."

"We were kind of already on our way to do that," Max informed him, raining all over his parade with delight, her arms now around Lucas' shoulders and his arms around her waist. "She told us to come over just now."

"Party at Rip's!" Eddie hollered, throwing his fist in the air and punching the roof of the shed with instant regret, causing him to hiss in pain and shake his ring-clad fingers out before he sucked on one his knuckles.

"No Boys Allowed," Eleven informed them.

"Yeah no boys," Max confirmed with a stoic nod.

"Rip hardly even counts as a girl, what do you mean no boys allowed? I'm a feminist," Eddie said in defense of himself more than his companions.

"Alright Mr. Feminist, give us a ride then," Max challenged him, folding her arms.

The group all piled into the van, everyone wearing masks to ensure their safety. Eleven sat next to Mike, bundled up in the "hazmat suit" Hopper fashioned together for her at the last minute since she was so insistent on going out. He knew better than to push her rebellion after the time she had run away. Mike reached for her hand that was covered in a yellow rubber dish glove and duct taped at the end, but she grabbed it before it could make contact to spray it with some hand sanitizer first. Mike grimaced at the feeling of cold, scored rubber against his palm, but kept a hold on it. On the way there the boys were trying to convince the girls that it would be a good idea to throw a rager at Ripley's house since her mom wasn't in town.

"Come on Max, it's the perfect opportunity," Lucas was saying, holding both of her hands in his. He clearly had his own agenda. "And if we invite the guys from the basketball team, maybe they'll put a good word in for me for tryouts next year."

"A rager? Seriously? You guys are relentless," Max said with an eyeroll, "You know we're not even supposed to be in this big of a group right now?"

"Come on Max!" Lucas continued to plead, squeezing her hands.

"You know it'll be epic!" Mike added, "You're with us, right El?"

The girl looked torn between which side to take, but firm in her solidarity to Max when she uttered "Girl's night."

Dustin suddenly looked queasy like he was gonna hurl, "Guys, I don't know..."

As if on cue, Eddie turned around in his seat after the van had come to a stop in the driveway of Ripley's shabby, yet charming abode. "Hey guys! Let's give it a rest for now. It's ladies night. Let them paint each others nails and talk to boys who are trapped in other dimensions and lets go find something to do. Just us guys." He was secretly plotting to return at midnight, but he would fill them all in on that once they left. "Maybe they'll change their minds and give us a call."

Lucas and Mike had no choice but to deal with that. They kissed their girlfriends goodbye, Mike and Eleven taking way too long as was to be expected. Max had to physically tear the two apart and drag El to where Ripley was waiting with her front door open.

"Not bad, Rip. This place is nicer than my trailer, but still not as nice as Eddie's," Max teased as she took in her surroundings. It smelled like stale cigarettes and spilled beer.

"Yeah Eddie's place is a palace compared to this dump, but my mom is never around. She hoards shit and then leaves," Ripley admitted with a smirk as she went to get them some sodas and herself a beer.

The girls' eyes both widened as they accepted the non alcoholic drinks. El recognized the smell as something Hopper would drink twelve of some nights until he was sad or angry or way too happy. It made him pee a lot. "Alcohol," she said.

"Yeah," Ripley confirmed as she chugged half of it. The remainder foamed audibly in the can when she brought it away from her lips.

"My brother drinks, but..you....know that," Max started to say to try and ease the tension until she realized it probably made it worse. She took notice of the Ouija board that was set up on the coffee table, each letter with a corresponding Christmas tree light bulb scotch taped to it.

"You're gonna use that?"

"Why not?" Ripley hiccuped, "Mrs. Byers basically did the same thing only bigger."

Eleven positioned herself in front of the Ouija board, her gaze focused. It took her a moment to center herself, closing her eyes and breathing deeply. With gentle concentration, she sent a telekinetic pulse towards it. A message started to form in the lights as they began to flicker over the letters H....E....L....P....The room went dim and the lights throughout the house started to flicker.

A shiver ran down Max's spine as she read the message out loud. "Help...okay. Clearly," she said in her best attempt at a composed tone, though it was evident she couldn't deny this was working.

As the lights flickered, Ripley exchanged a glance with Max, their eyes wide with fear and determination. Her voice was soft, as if she was afraid of hurting his ears, "Ricky? Is that you?"

More letters were picked out by the Christmas lights, T...H...E...Y....R...E........ H...E...R...E.....

"They're here? Who's they?" Max whispered.

Ripley's voice began to tremble in response as tears welled in her eyes, "I don't know...fucking...aliens? Maybe?! Demodorgon or whatever?"

The mispronunciation of a word she barely knew only confused the redhead more, "Demowhat?"

Just then a low rumble of thunder echoed outside, rattling the windows slightly. The room seemed to hold its breath, as if the very air was charged with an otherworldy presence.

"Bad," Eleven said.

In the Upside Down, Ricky had found shelter in an alternate version of Ripley's house. He wasn't sure how long he had been in this place, there was no way to tell time, but sometimes he felt like the two of them were laying in the same bed and he would try to talk to her. That's where he was when a flickering trail of lights got his attention.
The air was thick with a sense of dread and every creak of the floorboards sent shivers down his spine. He found himself following the lights into the living room where something awaited him.A Ouija board, its letters illuminated by Christmas lights, was on the coffee table. He felt an urge to pick it up, having the sense that it was connected to the girl he cared so deeply for. They had messed around with this thing once and joked that if either one of them died, they would still talk using the spooky Hasbro toy.Ricky reached out a fingerless-gloved hand, his calloused fingers hovering over the surface of the board. A surge of hope and determination now coursed through him as he realized the children's toy was potentially a way to reach Ripley or anyone across the boundaries of this nightmarish reality.Their almost reunion was abruptly shattered by a malevolent energy attempting to break down the door. Ricky's heart raced as he spelled out his final message. The house itself seemed to come alive, its shadows dancing threateningly as fear began to take a hold of the boy that sought its shelter. He scrambled to his feet and made his way back out into the unknown in search of a new hiding place.

Nik stood in front of the array of non-alcoholic drinks in the gas station wearing a respirator, with his baggy harem pants and loose fitting cotton shirt. He had tweaked the filters in the mask to actually keep out the harmful bacteria in the air and was testing it out. He didn't leave the house much unless it was to come here and stock up on rolling papers or the occasional pallet's worth of sunflower seeds. Whispers fluttered around him like gnats as his eyes scanned the options before him with a mixture of disappointment and frustration.

"So much sugar, you're right," he said to one of the voices, but to the cashier it just looked like he was talking to himself. The guy always had one hand under the counter when Nik came in.

One of the voices whispered to Nikolai, "A friend will be here soon!" and he chuckled to himself, wondering who it would be and getting the feeling it would be Eddie.

He had hoped to find something that was not dominated by useless fillers instead of any actual nutrients and settled on some juice in a glass apple. As he contemplated his choice, his attention was drawn away from the cooler to who the familiar presence that was now walking in.

Eddie's face lit up like the 4th of July when he saw his friend and business partner, his voice carrying ceremoniously across the store, "Well well well! Just the man I wanted to see on a night like this!" The headbanger moseyed over and gave his scrawny friend a firm pat on the back.

Hearing the smile on Eddie's lips caused his own to curl into one as well. That was until a chilling whisper brushed against his mind, echoing twisted intentions from something far beyond, but near at the same time. It was coming from inside him, but not the way the voices came from inside him. "Tonight," they kept saying earlier, "Tonight's the night" "tonight" "TONIGHT!" It started up again as he became lost in trying to figure out what they meant.

Eddie waited a moment before snapping in front of Nik's face, his rings audibly making contact as he did so. His tone was more concerned than impatient as he tried to lure Nik back to reality, "Hey so tonight... hello? Party time? Wanna go party?"

To Nik, the store took on a hushed quality as he felt a tingling at the back of his mind. Whispers materialized and faded out in cryptic fragments that he strained to decipher as he mindlessly paid for his juice.

"They made contact!" one of the voices said, clear as a bell.

"How?" another one interrogated the other.

"They're in love!"

"Like Nik loves Will but Will doesn't love him back?"

There were some laughs. Nik pushed his way out of the door, still not having told Eddie he agreed to attend this "party" even though it seemed like a prank was being played on him. The sky seemed charged with static, like right before a lightning storm, and he gazed up into it as if it was speaking to him.

Eddie stepped out of the gas station, a 30 rack of beer in hand. He spotted Nik standing just beyond the entrance, his gaze fixed intently on the night sky.

"Hey man," he interrupted hesitantly, his voice carrying concern. "Stargazing?"

Nik's attention hesitantly shifted from the sky to the headbanger and his beer, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "Yeah. Something like that," he replied with a touch of introspection.

Eddie held up the box of beer, shaking it slightly. "Figured a few cold ones might be a good addition to whatever you've got on you."

Nik's eyes flickered with gratitude as he opened the box and took one of the cans out, cracking it open. "I could use something to take the edge off," he said as he pulled his respirator down to sip the foam. He slid into the van, displacing Dustin from the passenger seat so that he could occupy it instead.

"Come on man," the younger boy muttered as he took his place between his friends.

Nik waved a greeting to the boys, his demeanor forced into casualness. "Hey kids!" he greeted them with feigned excitement and an underlying seriousness.

They waved back at him awkwardly. As Hawkins' local insane genius, they seemed in awe to see him up close. While everyone was familiar with the rumors and stories surrounding the Russian adoptee, none of them had any excuse to interact with him until now.

"So it's gonna be one of these kinds of parties..." Lucas mumbled behind his surgical mask.

Dustin nudged him with an elbow.

Eddie got in and the van rumbled to life. His gaze shifted to the boys in the rearview mirror, his expression becoming focused. "We're just going to have a chill night. No rager."

"Actually Eddie," Nik said rather abruptly but in a very calm subdued tone, "It's not going to be a chill night. It's already not a chill night."

"What does that mean?" Mike asked from behind them in a small voice, made anxious by such a vague and ominous statement.

Eddie breathed out a small nervous laugh as he started to drive, "Is that a threat? Are you freaking out?"

There was no relief to the unease Nikolai had made them all aware of. He would explain on the way there, but it wouldn't make sense until they got to Ripley's. As the van pulled away from the gas station curb, they were left with a sense of foreboding. The weight of the unknown hung heavy in the air as they drove and it felt like Nik was being driven to his own funeral.

The desperation and uncertainty that consumed Ripley was filling her living room as she paced around. Max knelt by Eleven's side, tending to her nosebleed. The worry in the redhead's eyes mirrored their friend's turmoil.

Ripley's voice trembled in frustration as she dropped to her knees before Eleven, "Please tell me if he's okay."

Eleven's gaze met Ripleys, her expression pained and empathetic as she wiped blood on the back of her hand. With a gentle touch, she reached out and placed her unsoiled hand on Ripley's, offering a small gesture of comfort. "I don't know," the girl replied softly, her voice barely above a whisper. It was only a few words, but they carried a heavy truth that hung in the air.

Tears streamed down Ripley's cheeks, carrying leftover eyeliner and mascara with them. She buried her face in her hands, the weight of her emotions finally becoming too overwhelming to contain. "We can't leave him there," she sniffed.

Max traded a worried glance with Eleven, a silent exchange of understanding passing between them. As Eleven gently let go of Ripley's hand, she looked toward the Ouija board with contemplation. The lights taped to it still flickered, a dim reminder of the connection they managed to establish with Ricky.

"We find a way," Eleven said with determination.

Ripley's tearful gaze met Eleven's once more, now showing a mix of gratitude. Eleven pulled her into a hug that sealed the bond forged by their shared struggle. Eleven's determined expression remained unchanged as she entered Ripley's dirty bathroom and pulled the plastic, mildew-ridden curtain away from the shower. Her fingers brushed against the rough material and memories of her training resurfaced. The space was confining, but she was resolute in her intention to replicate the deprivation chamber from Hawkins Lab. She pushed any memories of her time at the lab aside to focus on clearing her mind as she filled up the tub. As she lowered herself into the water, she closed her eyes, shutting out the world around her and entering blackness. As the barrier between the Upside Down and the world thinned, lights began to flicker in the house once more. In her mind, images of Ricky and the Upside down as well as other peoples memories surfaced, mingling together with her emotions. The water's flow became a backdrop to her concentration, a rhythmic pulse that matched her heart. Moments stretched into minutes and Eleven remained unyielding. She delved deep into her mind, tapping into the power that she had honed through years of training and experience.

Her presence emanated like a beacon in the black void as she ventured through it. She approached what looked to be Eddie's van, only it was broken down. A sense of relief washed over her as she spotted Ricky huddled inside.

"Ricky," the girl's voice cut through the eerie silence.

The frightened skater boy suddenly sat up, poised to strike at whoever's voice he had just heard.

"Hey!" he said after a moment of realizing he wasn't in danger. "You're that girl who doesn't talk much. Are you real? Is there a way out of here?!"

Eleven's dark eyes met his bright hazel hues, and even though her words were few, her intentions were clear, "Yes. Real. Follow."

With a gesture, she beckoned him to join her. Despite the uncertainty of their surroundings, her resolve shone brightly. As Ricky clambered out of the hunk of twisted metal that served as his shelter, a glimmer of hope was kindled within him. The pair walked side by side through the creepy, alien woods of the Upside Down.

Ricky's attempts at conversation cut through the tense atmosphere in an attempt to divert his mind away from their unsettling surroundings, "So, uh, Ripley. She's your friend, right?"

Eleven turned her gaze toward him, her expression slightly softened despite the circumstances. "Friend. Yes. Safe." Her brief words carried a reassuring undertone that conveyed her desire to allay his fears.

He smiled, letting out a sigh of relief and appreciating the comfort her words brought, "That's good to hear. Rip is... she's something else, you know?"

Eleven nodded, a faint smile tugging at the corner of her lips for a moment.

Ricky's willingness to engage in conversation went unwavering. "So what's your deal? How did you find me?"

There was hesitation in her eyes. "Special," she told him cryptically, pointing to her third eye.

Their dialogue was cut short as a menacing figure made its presence known by flinging him, mid response, into a tree.

"Fuck!" Ricky coughed out as he hit the ground. "Wish I had some fucking superpowers right now!" he thought.

Eleven's determined gaze locked onto the creature as she summoned her powers. With a burst of unseen energy, she pushed it back, giving Ricky a moment of temporary respite. The look of shock on his face had little time to dwell there as desperation now fueled both of their movements through the twisted landscape. Before he knew it, he was alone and lost while Eleven battled the creature somewhere behind him. The first time he looked back, he felt his knees hit something hard and then he was falling. He emerged from a pile of leaves, screaming and running into the road. He nearly collided with an approaching vehicle. Brakes screeched as the car came to a sudden halt. It was a police car, but Ricky couldn't see that with the headlights in his face. The driver was none other than Jim Hopper. The familiar face of the Hawkins police chief stared in surprise at the disheveled young man in the road as he opened the driver's side door and got out. His stern expression softened as he realized the danger Ricky had narrowly avoided.

"Kid what are you doing out here?!" he questioned, his concern evident through the anger.

Ricky panted heavily, his heart racing, as he was unable to comprehend, let alone explain what he was running from.

Hopper's gaze shifted towards the woods, his instincts kicking in. "Get in," he instructed, his tone leaving no room for argument.

As Ricky climbed into the police car, the weight of the situation settled in. "There's a girl out there!" he said suddenly, attempting to get out of the car just as Hopper had taken it out of park.

The irritated cop jammed the brakes again, sighing through his nose.

Ricky's brow was furrowed as he struggled to find the right words, "She's still fighting that...that thing."

A knot of apprehension started to form in Hopper's stomach as he gripped the steering wheel, "Describe her."

"What? Uh..uh super short hair, kinda small? She has these deep dark eyes like she's seen too much. She has powers man. She was pushing that thing all over the place with her mind or something!" the boy rambled on, hoping that the cop believed him.

Hopper's voice was measured, clearly on the brink of boiling over with intense anger, "It's your lucky day. That's my daughter. And I'm about to believe every word you say to me about her. Right now."

Eleven's breaths came in ragged gasps as she jolted back to reality in Ripley's bathroom. She instinctively touched her face, the warmth of her skin reassuring her that she was back in her own body. A memory of the Demogorgon's impending attack moments before she opened her eyes lingered, her eyes darting around the room so she could ground herself. She leaned heavily against the bathroom wall, her chest heaving.

Max's concerned voice pierced through the haze of panic, "El, are you okay?"

She and Ripley had just come in to stop the water from overflowing and flooding the bathroom.

Eleven nodded, the echoes of the Upside Down still reverberating in her mind as a haunting reminder of what lurked beyond. Max helped her stand which also solidified her grip on reality.

The front door opened, signaling Eddie's arrival with the Hellfire club and Nik in tow. He let himself in as the leader of the troupe and Ripley's best pal in the whole world, assuming they'd be walking into a slumber party, not a nightmare. Ripley heard footsteps and went out to greet the intruders.

"Hey Ripley," Eddie began, his tone gentle, "We brought some supplies. Thought we could all hang out and figure this out together."

As new people entered the already fucked up situation that was unfolding, tension etched itself into Ripley's face. Eleven came out sopping wet with her nose bleeding as Max wrapped her in a towel, a moot point for covering her soaked clothes. Ripley just gave Eddie a pensive look, not wanting to completely ignore him but having much more important matters to attend to.

"Let me get you something," Ripley said, retreating back into her room for some dry clothes.

Mike's concern was evident as he rushed to Eleven's side. "El, are you alright?" he asked, his hand brushing gently against her damp hair as he tried to assess the situation.

She struggled to convey her experience, her words still limited by her developing communication skills. "I... found Ricky...the Upside Down," Eleven began, her voice soft and strained, "Demogorgon... attacked."

Mike's concern deepened as he listened to the fragmented explanation. He reached out to gently touch her arm, offering his support and understanding. She had clearly been through a harrowing ordeal and he wanted to reassure her that they were there for her. "Hey you did your best, We're all here now. We're gonna figure this out," he said gently.

Eddie who had been observing the situation, chimed in with his own perspective. "You guys have faced this stuff before, we'll beat them again."

"And WHAT do we have here?!" Jim Hopper's bellowing arrival injected an intense wave of authority into the room, his voice cutting through the atmosphere like a cold gust of wind. "Underage drinking, I smell drugs being smoked, I see a kidnapping victim who just so happens to be my daughter-!" he began listing off offenses as he saw them being committed, "and ALL of you are over capacity considering the FUCKING AIR ADVISORY!"

Ripley's guilt ridden expression met the cop's gaze as she was handing his daughter some dry clothes. Eleven huddled into the bathroom to quickly change and excuse herself from the type of lecture she was accustomed to. The disappointment in the Hopper's eyes felt like a weight on Ripley's shoulders. She took a deep breath, mentally preparing herself for the impending rant.

Hopper's stern expression highlighted his disapproval of the situation before him. "Our gracious hostess!" he greeted her. "You know I expect this type of degenerate behavior from you...And him," he said pointedly glowering at Munson before turning his attention to the youngsters, "But not you boys."

Dustin, Mike, Lucas and Eddie all stumbled over each other's words, attempting to explain their presence in the midst of Hopper's righteous indignation. Their voices overlapped as they each offered their version of the events, trying to emphasize that they were trying to help their friends.

Max stepped forward, her resigned defiance meeting Hopper's sternness. "Look, Chief, we know things look bad, but we were just trying to find Ricky Dillinger."

The cop's expression softened his tough exterior with a hint of understanding, but his irritation remained. "I already found him."

Ricky popped out from behind him, a mess, but in one piece and cognizant. When she saw him, Ripley's heart almost stopped. Relief washed over her as she rushed forward to embrace him in a tight hug. All the worries and anxieties of the Upside Down melted away in that moment. She was real, he could touch her again. The first thing he did was smash his lips against hers as he held her face firmly in both hands.

Hopper's amusement at the dramatic reunion cut through the room, "Yeah, yeah, the prodigal boyfriend returns."

Ripley was crying as she laughed, kissing Ricky back with the longing that had built up in her for weeks.

"Where did you find him?" Max asked in awe.

Before Hopper could dare to answer, Eleven's succinct voice broke through as she came out of the bathroom wearing a pair of duck pajamas, "I found him." It was a rare moment of assertion from her, a declaration that held more weight than Hopper's attempt to dominate the clandestine gathering.

"Everyone, did their part," Ricky tried to diffuse the situation as he held Ripley close to him and turned his attention to Eleven, "But you got the powers. You're the hero. I can't wait to go home."

"Whoa whoa you can't just go home. You can't just go back to school either. It's shut down. Everything is shut down right now," Hopper informed the skater, the realization dawning on him that the boy had no idea what state Hawkins had fallen into since his disappearance.

Ricky noticed that some of the people that surrounded him were wearing masks and figured it was connected. He sensed a shared understanding that he was not a part of due to his absence. Max stepped closer to him, her hand finding his shoulder in a reassuring grip.

Hopper continued, his voice laden with a sense of urgency. "Listen, kid, I don't know what you've been through, but you're not safe out there anymore. The world's changed and there are things out there...that are, well... let's just say they're beyond the scope of normal. You've got something that certain people would kill to get their hands on. Just like El, here." His gaze moved on from Ricky to each person in the room, his words carrying a weight of responsibility, and Mike smiled proudly that he was finally appreciated despite the current circumstances. "You're gonna have to lay low, stay hidden. And you'll need to trust the people around you just like Eleven has and I...failed to in the past BUT, I've learned to trust as well."

Nik's entrance into the room was followed by the scent of something chocolatey and fresh-baked as he extended a tray of brownies to everyone. "First pick?" he said to the newly rescued boy, "You're probably starving."

Ricky eyed Nik warily as he took a brownie, exchanging a subtle glance with Ripley as his intuition was triggered and he wasn't about to ignore it.

"Great. You're here too?" Hopper said incredulously, "These fumes must be getting to my head, I'm in too good of a mood to bust you all."

"Who is this guy?" Ricky whispered to Ripley as Hopper dominated the conversation yet again.

Ripley's expression held a mix of uncertainty and caution. "He's just a friend," she replied, her tone a combination of reassurance and secrecy.

There was more to Nik than she was willing to divulge in that moment. Ricky's suspicion didn't waver, his eyes narrowing as he watched Nik. There was something about the way Nik carried himself, a self-assuredness that seemed to suggest a deeper connection to their circumstances. As everyone rallied around the idea of keeping Ricky safe, he couldn't shake the feeling that there was more involvement in than Ripley was letting on. Nik was aware of the boy's suspicions and thought he could do nothing to put them to rest without risk of putting himself in danger. He tried to extend an offer from a genuine place of concern. He looked at Ricky with a sincerity that was difficult to ignore.

"Listen, friend," Nik said in earnest, "I know things are chaotic, but you need a place to lay low. I've got access to a secure spot that's off the radar. You'll be safe there."

Ricky's suspicion still lingered, but Nik's pragmaticism caused him to question his assumptions. His gaze shifted between Nik and Ripley, his mind working through his doubts and the questions he had.

"Okay," Ricky finally said, his voice a blend of uncertainty and cautiousness.

Nik's smile grew, a touch of relief evident in it. "You're doing the right thing," he said.

Chapter Text

Ricky found himself in the confined space of Murray's underground bunker, a makeshift home he would share with Nikolai. The space was small, filled with an eclectic mix of belongings—strange contraptions, gadgets, and the ever-present scent of mysterious herbs from Nikolai's greenhouse. The makeshift living quarters were a stark contrast to the familiar surroundings of Hawkins, but in the face of the unknown, it offered a semblance of safety.
Nikolai, with his calm demeanor and a hospitality that bordered on unnerving for Ricky, did his best to make the bunker feel like home. He had rearranged the limited space to accommodate Ricky, offering him a corner with a makeshift bed, a small table, and a collection of intriguing books. Despite Nikolai's attempts at friendliness, Ricky couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to the story, especially concerning Nikolai's relationship with Ripley. The two shared a history that seemed to be veiled in secrecy, and Ricky's intuition couldn't help but fuel his suspicions.
As they settled into their new living arrangement, Ricky's resentment toward Nikolai began to fester. He would catch glimpses of Nikolai looking at him with a kindness that only fueled Ricky's suspicions further. The skater couldn't help but wonder if Nikolai and Ripley had been romantically involved. The thought gnawed at him, a lingering discomfort that colored their interactions. Nikolai, for his part, tried his best to bridge the gap between them. He was genuinely interested in making Ricky feel at home, often engaging in conversations about their shared experiences in Hawkins. However, every attempt at camaraderie seemed to widen the divide between them.

One evening, as Ricky coughed persistently, Nikolai's concern deepened. He insisted that Ricky take some medicine he had developed from the plants in his greenhouse. Ricky, skeptical of anything unfamiliar, refused adamantly.

"I'm not drinking some random concoction you came up with. What if it makes things worse?" Ricky argued, his suspicion lacing every choked word.

Nikolai, patient but insistent, tried to reassure him. "It's just a herbal remedy. It'll help with the cough, trust me."
The argument escalated, each word carrying the weight of unspoken tensions. Ricky's frustration grew, and he couldn't help but voice his suspicions. "You know, it wouldn't surprise me if you and Ripley were more than just friends. I've seen the way you look at her!"
Nikolai's expression shifted, a mix of surprise and something more guarded. He took a deep breath, trying to maintain his composure. "Ricky, we're not—"

But before he could finish his sentence, Ricky cut him off with a dismissive wave.

In a moment of frustration, Nikolai threatened to call Ripley to mediate the situation. Ricky, unwilling to involve her, sulked and retreated into the greenhouse to be alone with his thoughts. Unbeknownst to him, Nikolai was grappling with his own internal struggles. He had kept a secret for years—a truth about his sexuality that he guarded closely. The recent astral projections to Will Byers had stirred emotions and confusion within him, making him question the facade he had carefully maintained.
Nikolai, aware of Ripley's arrival, made his way to the gate. As he opened it to let her in, their eyes met in a silent exchange of understanding. He could see the worry etched on her face, and he knew he needed to explain Ricky's behavior without causing her more distress.

"Hey," Nikolai greeted Ripley, his voice calm and measured. "Ricky's going through a lot. It's not easy for him down here, and I get it. The stress is getting to him, but he's a fighter."

Ripley's eyes searched Nikolai's for reassurance as he continued, "You need to understand, though. The longer he stays out there, the worse it gets. In the Upside Down, the poison couldn't spread, but out here, it's a different story."

She nodded, absorbing the information with a mix of concern and determination. "So, what can we do?"

Nikolai gestured toward the greenhouse. "I've been working on a cure, but I'll need to administer it soon. It won't be pleasant, but it's the best chance he has."

Ripley followed him inside, her steps echoing the gravity of the situation. Nikolai guided her towards Ricky, who sat among the greenery, lost in his thoughts. Ripley knelt in front of him, holding his hands. Their eyes locked, and she pressed a gentle kiss to his lips. Ricky clung to her, his embrace filled with longing and relief.

"I missed you so much," he whispered, pouring his heart into those words.

Tears welled in Ripley's eyes as she reciprocated the sentiment with a tight hold on him.

Ripley cupped Ricky's face in her hands, her eyes searching his for reassurance. "Ricky, you have to trust Niko. He's doing everything he can to help you."

Ricky's eyes flickered with fear, uncertainty etched across his features. "I know, Rip, but... what if it makes things worse? What if I lose myself?"
She wiped away a stray tear from his cheek, her voice filled with determination. "We can't let fear control us. You've been through so much already, and I can't bear the thought of losing you again. Nikolai believes in this, and I do too. And Eddie, and...Dustin and all of those guys. We're all going to help you."
Ricky's gaze met hers, a mixture of fear and love reflected in his eyes. "I'm scared, Rip. I don't want to go through that again. That place...I go there every night now."

Ripley's hands moved to grip his, her touch grounding him. "I know, but I can't lose you, Ricky. Not after everything we've been through. We'll face it, fight it, and come out stronger on the other side."

He sighed, his shoulders slumping as he processed her words. "What if I change, Rip? What if I'm not the same after this?"

Ripley's thumb traced comforting circles on the back of his hand. "No matter what happens, we'll face it together. We'll find a way to make it work, to make a new normal. But you have to take the chance, Ricky. For us."

He nodded, a mixture of fear and determination in his eyes. "Okay, Rip. I'll do it. For us."Ripley pulled him into a tight embrace, holding him close as if trying to shield him from the impending storm. "I love you, Ricky Dillinger. And no matter what happens, we'll face it together."

Their tender moment was interrupted by Nikolai's voice, bringing a dose of reality crashing down on them. "Ricky, it's time for the cure."

Ripley's gaze shifted to Nikolai, a mix of concern and fear clouding her expression. Nikolai hesitated before explaining, "I've developed something that might help him, but it's experimental. He's the first one to try it."

Ripley's eyes widened, and panic crept into her voice. "Experimental?"

Nikolai nodded, his expression resolute. "It's the best chance he has, Ripley. Trust me."

Ripley, torn between fear for Ricky's well-being and trust in Nikolai's intentions, felt the weight of the decision pressing down on her. She and Ricky got up from the floor of the greenhouse so Nikolai could lead them over to his "medical area". Ricky sat on the makeshift bed, his eyes flickering between Nikolai and Ripley, uncertainty clouding his features.

Nikolai held a coffee mug in his hand, his gaze meeting the blonde boy's. "Are you ready to be saved?"

Ricky took a deep breath, exchanging a glance with Ripley. "Yeah, let's do it. I can't let this demon shit overtake me."

Nikolai nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. He handed over the beverage and Ricky drank it all down. He winced, the initial sensation a mix of coolness and warmth spreading through him. As Nikolai monitored the procedure, Ripley sat close, her hand intertwined with Ricky's. The seconds felt like an eternity as they waited to see how the experimental cure would affect him.

Ricky, feeling a strange sensation coursing through him, voiced his discomfort, "This feels... weird. Like, my stomach hurts a bit."

Nikolai, jotting down notes, reassured him, "It's normal to feel some discomfort. The cure is actively working. We just need to give it some time."

Ripley leaned in, her comforting touch reassuring Ricky. "You're strong, Ricky. You've faced worse."

As they waited, the dim light in the bunker cast shadows, creating an intimate space for the trio. Minutes turned into an hour, and slowly, Ricky's discomfort began to fade.

Nikolai, noting the positive response, spoke with cautious optimism, "The initial effects seem promising. I'll continue to monitor you closely, but it looks like the cure is taking hold."

Ripley, her eyes filled with relief, whispered to Ricky, "You did it. I knew you could."

With the worst of the discomfort passing, Ricky and Ripley retreated to a more private corner of the bunker, finding solace in the familiarity of a makeshift bedroom. Ricky lay on the bed, with Ripley sitting beside him, her fingers gently running through his hair.

Ripley's voice was soft, filled with admiration, "You're so strong, Ricky. Facing the unknown, taking on this cure – it's not easy, but you're doing it."
Ricky, looking up at her with gratitude, replied, "I couldn't do it without you, Rip. I missed you so much."
She smiled, her affectionate gaze fixed on him. "I missed you too, more than you can imagine."

Ripley's fingers traced gentle patterns on Ricky's skin, a silent testament to her admiration for the resilient spirit that had endured so much. Soft whispers of affection filled the air, blending seamlessly with the rhythmic hum of the bunker's machinery. Ricky, in turn, savored the warmth of her touch, finding solace in the soft strokes that seemed to erase the scars of his recent ordeal.

As Nikolai meticulously took notes on the experiment's effects, Ricky's gaze met Ripley's, and in that unspoken language, they shared a promise—an unyielding commitment to face whatever challenges lay ahead together.

Wrapped in each other's arms, the two punks marveled at the resilience that love afforded them, creating a haven where romance blossomed amidst the unknown shadows of their reality. In their shared embrace, the subterranean refuge transformed into a sanctuary, weaving threads of strength, love, and hope to confront the looming uncertainties on the horizon. The experimental cure marked the beginning of a path filled with both promises and unknowns, yet in that very moment, Ricky and Ripley discovered a comforting refuge within each other's presence.

Chapter Text

Eddie Munson groggily stumbled into his bathroom, still half-asleep, reaching for the shower knob with his eyes barely open. He twisted it, expecting the familiar sound of water cascading down, but there was only silence. Confused and still in a haze, he turned on the sink faucet, only to be met with the same eerie quiet. Blinking away the remnants of sleep, Eddie glanced up at the mirror, hoping for some clarity. Instead, his eyes widened at the sight of an otherworldly, purple, and spikey vine emerging from the shower faucet. Shocked, he let out a scream, a mixture of fear and disbelief echoing through the confined space.

Eddie sat with the Hellfire Club all masked up, but a palpable urgency visibly etched across his features as he recounted the inexplicable events of his morning. Dustin, Mike, and Lucas contributed their own eerie encounters at their respective homes. A collective sense of disquiet settled among them as they grappled with the realization that their lives were intricately connected by a mysterious and foreboding force.

"Any word on Ricky?" Dustin asked, his concern etched on his face.

"I don't know, Nik said he cooked up some homebrew cure for him but I don't know how it went..." Eddie's voice trailed off, a distant look in his eyes as he revisited the unsettling beginning of his day.

"So he has a solution for this?" Lucas asked, sounding like he'd just learned a secret that was being kept from him maliciously.

Just then, the atmosphere shifted as Ripley entered, Ricky and Nikolai in tow. Nikolai sported oversized, ridiculous sunglasses, and Ricky wore a mask that immediately caught everyone's attention. A wave of concern rippled through the room as the realization that Ricky might be potentially infecting them settled in.

Nikolai, sensing the mounting tension, stepped forward, a reassuring demeanor contrasting with his eccentric appearance. "Hold on, everyone. The cure is working. Ricky is not a threat. He's under control," he asserted, attempting to quell the panic that threatened to consume the Hellfire Club.

As the heated discussion about the recent strange events unfolded, Ricky felt an unsettling urge to separate himself from the group. Ignoring the ongoing debate, he quietly slipped away and ventured into the woods behind the trailer park. The tangled trees and rustling leaves provided a temporary refuge from the escalating tension. As he slipped away into the woods, the atmosphere among the remaining group members became increasingly tense. Mike, Lucas, and Ripley found themselves embroiled in a heated conversation.

"Rip, we can't just let him roam freely. What if he's infected, and he spreads whatever this is to everyone else?" Lucas argued, his concern etched across his face.

"I get it, but we can't just abandon him," Ripley interjected in defense of Ricky. "The cure works."

Mike, however, remained skeptical. "Improvements or not, we can't take any chances. We don't know the full extent of this infection, and we need to protect ourselves. You've probably got it too!"

Everyone took a step back as Lucas practically shoved Ripley away from the shed. Eddie, overcome with a sudden protective responsibility over his friend, grabbed his party member by the collar of his shirt and dragged him back into the shed and threw him into his seat.

As the discussion intensified, Max stepped in between her boyfriend and Ripley, attempting to defuse the growing conflict. "Guys, let's not turn on each other. We're all need to figure out a solution without tearing ourselves apart."

Meanwhile, Ricky found himself by a creek. The water, once a natural source of serenity, now bore an unnatural hue. Intrigued and uneasy, he followed the stream, eventually stumbling upon a massive, gnarled mass of roots that resembled the strange vines infesting their homes. The rhythmic babbling of the stream seemed tainted, an unsettling accompaniment to the strange events unfolding in Hawkins. This small journey led him to a disturbing sight—a colossal tangle of roots, resembling the unnatural vines that had invaded their homes. The once-vibrant woods now harbored this grotesque aberration, and at its center lay a motionless figure, a young boy, ensnared by the malevolent growth. Shock reverberated through Ricky as he observed the scene, dread creeping over him like a shadow. The implications of this eerie discovery heightened a sudden urgency to run and tell the others.

His voice tore through the uneasy calm of the woods and the calm after the argument, summoning the others with a series of frantic shouts. The gravity of his discovery fueled his screams, carrying the weight of the situation.

"GUYS! You NEED to see this!" he yelled, maintaining a cautious distance and not wanting to leave the scene completely unmanned.

The urgency in his voice drew the group closer, their shared anxiety palpable in the gathering gloom of the woods. As they converged around the tangled mass of vines, Ripley's eyes widened with a mix of shock and relief. Noticing subtle movements in the boy's chest, she realized he was still breathing. Fueled by a surge of determination, she ignored the potential danger and reached out, brushing the vines with her hand. A searing pain shot through her as the vines reacted, burning her skin, but she gritted her teeth and pressed on, focused on rescuing the trapped boy.

"Stop stop stop!" Ricky and Eddie both said in discordant unison as they pulled her away.

"Well we have to save him!" Ripley cried out, hissing in pain as she assessed the damage on her hands.

"We can't call the hospital, they'll take him like they took me," Ricky reasoned with her, gently trying to examine her wounds as well.

"Let's call some fucking grownups, I'm done being the only adult here right now," Eddie insisted. He walked back up towards the house with Nikolai trailing behind him. Taking off his ridiculous sunglasses and putting them on Ripley's face, Nikolai smiled before heading up the hill with Eddie. Strangely enough her hands looked like they were fine with the glasses on which perplexed her.

Nikolai followed his metalhead friend close behind. "I think we might need some tools from your uncle, too!" he informed. They made their way through the screen door, with Nikolai still discussing the situation. "We might need more than just shears. I'll call Murray. He has all sorts of tools at the bunker."

Eddie's uncle Wayne was sprawled on the couch when they entered, eyeing them with a mix of curiosity and annoyance. "What's going on with the drains, Eddie?"

"We're working on it," Eddie assured him as he rummaged through Wayne's toolbox. Handing Nikolai the corded phone, Eddie added, "We might need some plumbing tools as well."

Nikolai dialed Murray's number, and once connected, he had to exchange a secret code to ensure the conversation was secure. Wayne's suspicion was palpable as he sipped his beer and turned the TV volume down.

"Niko, my boy! Where the hell are ya, and what trouble are you in?" Murray's voice crackled through the receiver.

Eddie continued searching through the tools, but Wayne, overhearing snippets of Nikolai's conversation, began to look increasingly concerned. The urgency in Nikolai's voice, combined with mysterious mentions of rescue and the need for an array of tools, painted a disconcerting picture. Wayne couldn't help but frown, glancing between Eddie and Nikolai as if trying to unravel the story unfolding in his own living room. In hushed tones, Nikolai continued his conversation with Murray, providing coded details about the situation.

"We need to rescue someone, Murray. It's the plants, and we require an arsenal of tools. Make sure you bring the works, and don't forget the protection gear. This situation is more delicate than we anticipated."

Eddie, overhearing these exchanges, felt a knot of anxiety tighten in his stomach. The mundane routine of his morning had been abruptly shattered, replaced by a sense of foreboding and a realization that the bizarre occurrences were more than just a series of coincidences. As he exchanged glances with his concerned uncle, Eddie looked apologetic. He knew he'd have to explain later.

As Hopper, Murray, and Joyce arrived at the scene, fully geared up for the peculiar task at hand, Hopper couldn't help but grumble about the absurdity of the situation. "Why do I let myself get dragged into this nonsense every single time?" he muttered, his frustration audible in his voice.

Exiting Hopper's squad car, and with Hopper demanding Eleven wait in the backseat, the three made their way down into the creek, ready to confront whatever was ahead. Hopper wore a stern expression, Joyce looked determined, and Murray, equipped with his own set of eccentric tools, appeared oddly excited by the challenge. Eleven, as always, allowed her curiosity and determination to get the better of her. Unbeknownst to the adults, she slipped out of the car and made her way to reunite with Mike and their friends, drawn by the mysteries that seemed to encircle Hawkins at every turn.

"Holy shhhhhit-!" Hopper exclaimed upon taking in the nightmarish sight.

Joyce, fueled by a sense of duty ingrained by her own motherly instincts and the haunting memories of Will's entrapment, immediately moved into action. Murray, with an odd excitement for the bizarre, instructed Hopper and Joyce on how to use the peculiar tools they had brought along to free the boy from the grip of the vines. With a concentrated effort, Hopper managed to gently hoist the boy over his shoulder, and together, they carefully laid him on a blanket.

Amidst the chaos, Eddie's uncle Wayne, who had been watching the scene unfold with growing concern, finally approached Eddie, demanding an explanation. "Eddie, what the hell is going on here?" Wayne asked, his confusion and worry evident in his voice.

Once all the explaining was over with, Eddie, alongside Rip, Ricky and Nikolai, assisted in carefully transporting the strange boy to Murray's bunker.

As they arrived at the underground sanctuary, Murray's initial reaction was far from welcoming. "This isn't some kind of orphanage for sick and lost boys!" he exclaimed, frustration evident in his voice.

He turned to Nikolai, ever calm and composed, who seemed unfazed by the outburst. In response, Nikolai casually sparked up a joint, offering it to Murray as a gesture of camaraderie amidst the chaos. Murray, while visibly exasperated, took the offered joint, inhaling deeply as he pondered the situation.

"Nikolai, I've got serious doubts about this so-called sickness. And you can't just bring every oddity into this bunker." Murray expressed his concerns, the weight of the unknown bearing down on his skeptical mind as he smoked.

"You're correct," Nikolai began, carefully taking back the joint and puffing on it deeply. The haze of pot smoke enveloped the room as Nikolai realized the urgency of the situation.

In a rapid exchange of dialogue, Nikolai explained to Murray that, while many of the symptoms were psychological, the poison from the vines could indeed manifest as a real and dangerous illness. Murray, ever the skeptic, listened intently, the gravity of the situation sinking in as he assisted in undressing the mysterious boy.

As the boy was gently placed into the bathtub at Nikolai's direction, Ricky and Ripley hovered nearby, witnessing the unfolding scene. The boy's body was marred by burns, prompting Ripley to inquire, "What is that..?"

Nikolai, his focus divided between the task at hand and explaining to the concerned onlookers, clarified, "The plants are acidic, not poisonous. The burns are a result of their corrosive nature."

Ricky, bewildered by the revelation, asked, "So, why did I drink that crap?"

Nikolai sighed, taking a moment to collect his thoughts. He confessed, "The 'cure' I concocted is a potent psychedelic. It's designed to unravel the damage inflicted on the brain by trauma. I didn't anticipate the acidic nature of the plants causing physical harm, though." The weight of his unintended actions hung heavily in the air, blending with the lingering smoke as he handed Ripley the joint. Amidst the chaos of pouring a mysterious bottled substance into the bath, he glanced at Ripley's hands with a furrowed brow.

"Ripley," Nikolai said, his voice tinged with intrigue, "you touched the vines, didn't you? Why aren't you burned?"

Ripley, her hands notably undamaged, nodded solemnly. "I did. It stung at first, but I'm not in pain now."

Nikolai, perplexed, examined her hands once more. "This is peculiar. The acid should have left lasting damage for at least a couple days."

The mysterious boy began to stir as the bath was prepared, causing a sudden jolt of surprise. Murray, usually composed in the face of strange occurrences, couldn't contain his shock and let out a high-pitched scream that echoed through the bunker. The unexpected reaction added a touch of humor to the intense situation, briefly breaking the palpable tension as everyone turned to look at Murray with a mixture of amusement and concern.

Ricky, still nursing a mix of anger and worry, rolled his eyes at Murray's outburst.

Murray, slightly embarrassed, cleared his throat and adjusted his glasses. "Well, nobody warned me the kid was gonna wake up, okay?"

"Smelling salts... they heal," Nikolai clarified in reference to the bottle he emptied into the water.

The boy's eyes fluttered open, and a wave of fear and confusion washed over his face as he took in the unfamiliar surroundings and the people within it. The concerned faces peering down at him, and the surreal atmosphere all contributed to his disoriented state. The group watched with a mix of anticipation and concern as the boy's gaze darted around, trying to make sense of the situation. His eyes widened as they landed on each person, one by one, their expressions a combination of curiosity and reassurance.

Chapter Text

Marshall Teller, a paranormal investigator from Eerie, Indiana, brought with him not only a name but a backstory that heightened the tension in Murray's bunker. Eerie, known for its peculiarities, seemed to produce individuals drawn to the unexplained, much like Hawkins. Marshall's disappearance had a unique twist, one that resonated deeply with Ricky, who found himself drawn to the young man's unsettling experience. The parallel experiences of being thrust into the unknown, and grappling with the inexplicable, created an unspoken bond between them. An enthusiast of the paranormal, Marshall had been on a quest to find ghosts when he stumbled upon a tunnel that defied all logical boundaries. His eyes widened as he recounted the unnerving discovery; a never-ending tunnel, where no matter which direction he walked, there was no end in sight. The mystery of this infinite passageway fueled the fear and curiosity within everyone he told.

"I don't know how I ended up here," Marshall said, wringing his hands, "My parents are probably freaking out right now."

Ricky felt a pang of guilt at knowing his own mother was mourning his death, despite the fact that he could take all her pain away by just going back home and running into her arms.

Murray's concern echoed through the air like a warning. "There are too many people in here. We're blowing the spot up."

Feeling the strain of the growing group, Ripley, with her compassionate nature and an acute understanding of loss, took charge. She surveyed the situation with a calm determination, recognizing the need to redistribute the burden of caretaking. Turning to Ricky and the newly arrived Marshall, she made a decisive call.

"Ricky, you're coming with me," Ripley declared, her voice carrying a reassuring authority. "Murray's right. We need to spread out, and my place is as good as any."

Nikolai, ever the scientist, delved into running tests on Marshall to understand the extent of his exposure to the strange plants. As Ripley took on the role of caretaker, Nikolai conducted his experiments. Ricky and Ripley bid their farewell, Nikolai making sure to hug Ripley around the shoulders under Ricky's watchful eye. Nikolai wore a goofy, warm smile as he pulled Ricky into a far more intimate embrace which the skater soon fought to get out of.

As the couple walked down the driveway and through the gate, they held hands. The dark swollen clouds above started to drizzle as they got into Ripley's mother's car. She smoothly maneuvered through the rainy roads, the rural landscape gliding by as a silent witness to the unfolding mysteries that surrounded them. Ricky's mind, a whirlwind of emotions and thoughts, found solace in the comforting grasp of Ripley's hand.

"I'm excited to play house with you," Ripley said, a glimmer of genuine happiness in her eyes.

Ricky couldn't help but smile, the prospect of being alone with her after what felt like an eternity bringing a sense of warmth to his heart. His emotions danced on the edge of teenage desire and genuine affection. Ricky found himself contemplating the nature of their relationship. Despite the trials they'd faced together, he realized that, beyond stolen moments and heated kisses, they hadn't truly explored the depths of their connection.
A subtle longing crept into his thoughts, the desire to unravel the layers of their bond and discover the intimacy that extended beyond the superficial. In that quiet space, amid the hum of the engine and the occasional rustling of leaves in the night breeze, Ricky's mind delved into the unspoken possibilities that awaited them. Yet, amid the comforting thoughts, the weight of Marshall's arrival lingered in his mind.

"So, you think he really just walked all the way here from Eerie?" Ricky asked, his gaze fixed on the passing landscape.

"I don't know. Why? He said he was riding a bike," Ripley reminded him, her attention briefly diverted from the road.

"We didn't find his bike, though," Ricky reasoned, a hint of suspicion coloring his voice.

"You think something dragged him? Like an animal?" Ripley asked, her eyes narrowing in thought.

"Like... that weird monster face thing?" Ricky suggested, referring to the Demogorgon that had haunted the friend group's collective nightmares.

Ripley navigated the winding road with a practiced ease, her thoughts aligning with Ricky's concerns. The memory of the Demogorgon, a monstrous visage that had terrorized their lives, surfaced in their conversation. The very mention of the creature invoked a shared history of fear and survival. As the car pressed on through the night, the shadows cast by the headlights seemed to play tricks on the edges of their imaginations, conjuring the specter of unknown dangers until the car stopped in her driveway.
The two of them ran giggling under the overhang of her shabby abode. Ricky's hands were on her as she struggled to get the key in the lock and they practically fell inside on top of the door. Ricky settled into the familiar comfort of Ripley's living room, the soft cushions of the couch cradling him as he sank into a momentary reprieve. The atmosphere in the room carried the subtle warmth of familiarity, a contrast to the recent string of unsettling events. As he glanced around, Ripley took her boots off. The living room, adorned with the traces of her mother's laziness, felt cozy and warm amid the crummy weather that enveloped Hawkins. Ricky couldn't help but appreciate the respite it offered, a brief pause in the midst of the unknown. His eyes scanned the room, absorbing the details that spoke of Ripley's life, a life he badly wanted to keep intertwined with his own for the rest of his days.

"Hungry?" her question about food was met with Ricky's playful response, a smirk dancing on his lips.

"Not yet," he replied, his gaze shifting from her to some VHS tapes on the coffee table.

"You wanna watch something?" Ripley asked, taking a seat next to him.

"Something..." he said, "I definitely want to watch something..." As he perused the collection of tapes, their fingers brushed, and he couldn't resist stealing a kiss, drawing a blush from the girl. When he picked up the box for "Blue Lagoon," he discovered the case was empty, and Ripley's embarrassment added a touch of innocence to the moment.

"That must be my mom's, I haven't watched anything since you left-" she confessed.

As they continued their playful exploration of the VHS collection, Ricky stumbled upon "Rocktober Blood."

"Oh yeah Eddie says that it's really good but the guy's name is Billy so... I didn't watch it." Ripley explained awkwardly.

"I'll pass on that," Ricky laughed, reading the synopsis on the back about how a dead rock star came back from the dead to get revenge on his old bandmates. They shared a laugh over the plot of the movie.

Ripley then presented "Silent Madness," a slasher film with a suspenseful cover depicting a girl fleeing an axe-wielding maniac.

"Sure. I mean... are we really going to pay much attention anyways?" Ricky's sly question about their attention span elicited a grin from Ripley, and they both anticipated the distraction that movie night promised.

With a peck on the lips, Ripley went to change the tape, and as the VCR whirred to life, the room filled with the familiar static hum that comforted them both. In the midst of strange occurrences and uncharted territories, the simple act of choosing a movie became a shared moment of normalcy.

Back at Fort Bauman, Nikolai was engrossed in conducting experiments on Marshall. The makeshift lab had become a nexus of curiosity, as Nikolai delved into the unknown alongside Murray. As the experiments unfolded, Marshall couldn't help but become increasingly concerned about Nikolai's conspicuous weed consumption. His eyes shifted from the scientific apparatus to the joints being rolled, prompting him to finally voice his unease.

"Hey, man, don't you think you're smoking a bit too much of that stuff?" Marshall asked, a note of concern in his voice.

Nikolai, with a joint casually dangling from his lips, chuckled and looked up from his work. "My friend, let me tell you about the wonders of this magical herb. It's not just about getting high; it's about expanding your mind, seeing beyond the illusions the government wants you to believe."

Marshall raised an eyebrow, intrigued yet skeptical. "The government?"

Nikolai nodded fervently. "Absolutely. They want to keep us in the dark, but marijuana is a key to unlocking the truth. It opens your mind to the things they hide from us."

Since Marshall had been conscious, there were numerous times in which Nikolai embarked on a passionate monologue about government secrets, mind-expanding substances, and the need to question the status quo. Marshall, feeling a bit overwhelmed by Nikolai's passionate discourse and eccentric demeanor, decided to shift the conversation to more neutral ground. He glanced down at the oversized clothes he was wearing, an unintended consequence of the stoner's wardrobe selections.

"Yeah... Hey thanks for the clothes, man. They're a bit... roomy, but I appreciate it," Marshall said, attempting to divert the discussion away from government conspiracies and substance abuse.

Nikolai, still with an air of intensity, looked at Marshall's attire and grinned. "Ah, fashion might not be my forte, but it's the least I could do. Comfort is key, my friend."

Marshall nodded, a mixture of gratitude and wariness in his expression. The bunker, with its peculiar ambiance and Nikolai's unconventional hospitality, seemed to envelop him in a sort of longing, one that extended far beyond just wanting his clothes back. Nikolai carefully conducted his experiments, the dimness of his desk lamp lending an air of mystery to the proceedings. He placed skin samples from Ripley, Marshall, and Ricky into separate beakers, each containing a few drops of the mysterious liquid. As the liquid interacted with the samples, the bunker's subdued atmosphere became charged with an unspoken tension. The results were swift. Ripley's sample exhibited no change, maintaining its natural appearance. However, the samples from Marshall and Ricky underwent a noticeable transformation, turning a vivid Prussian blue. Nikolai observed the reaction with a mix of fascination and concern, the implications sparking a new layer of mystery in the already perplexing situation.

Murray, leaning in for a closer look, couldn't hide his astonishment. "What does that mean?" he asked, his voice tinged with a hint of anxiety.

Ripley shifted in her bed, the rhythmic sound of Ricky's snores providing a comforting backdrop to the quiet night. The room was lit by the soft glow of a bedside lamp, creating a serene atmosphere. The air was heavy with the scent of shared moments between the two teens and stale cigarette smoke. As Ripley began to drift into the embrace of sleep, the phone's persistent ringing shattered the peaceful ambiance. Groaning, she buried her face in the pillows, hoping the noise would stop on its own. But it persisted, insistent and aggravating, until she couldn't bear it any longer.

Reluctantly, she threw herself out of bed and went to go pick up the phone, her voice muffled by drowsiness as she answered, "What?"

It was Nikolai, "Heeeey uhhh-"

She cut him off, "How did you get this number?"

Nikolai was a bit hesitant, "I really shouldn't have had to ask for it from Eddie considering the circumstances. Look... I just tested a piece of your skin."

Suddenly she was pissed and yelling, "Where the FUCK did you get a piece of my skin?!"

Nikolai's response crackled through the line, a strange mix of nonchalance and scientific intrigue, "Well, I might have taken it while you were sleeping. But you're lucky I did."

Ripley sighed, realizing that she was likely in for another unpredictable twist in this bizarre tale. Ricky came out to join her, rubbing sleep from his eyes and putting his arm around her as she twisted the phone's cord around her finger anxiously.

Chapter Text

In the midst of the unfolding mystery surrounding the strange plant and its effects on individuals, Ripley's immunity remained an enigma that even the conspiracy-toting minds of Nikolai and Murray couldn't unravel. As they debated the existence of a disease versus government mind control, Ripley stood as a living contradiction to their theories.

Ricky, always the curious one, decided to take a different approach. He turned to Marshall, the newcomer who had experienced firsthand the mysterious tunnel that seemed to connect their towns. With a genuine curiosity, Ricky asked, "Hey Marshall, have you been having any strange dreams or thoughts since you got here? Anything that feels connected to that tunnel?"

Marshall, still adjusting to the bizarre circumstances, contemplated Ricky's question before cautiously responding, "Well, my dreams have been... unusual. I'm always in the endless tunnel and there's shadows moving in the dark. It's like there's something out there, watching me."

As Ricky listened intently to Marshall's account, Nikolai interjected, "They're not bound by the physical constraints of our reality. It's possible that Ripley's connection to these dimensions, whether through genetics or some other anomaly, is shielding her from the effects of the plant."

Murray, skeptical but intrigued, couldn't resist adding, "Or maybe the government knows something we don't, and Ripley's got some kind of secret immunity they're not telling us about."

Nikolai, still convinced of the psychological nature of the symptoms, couldn't help but engage in the banter. "Murray, you're not far off. I'm telling you, it's all in the mind. The power of suggestion, manipulation."

Murray, nodded enthusiastically, "You can't deny the government has a history of covering up things. They might have some secret experiment going on, and Ripley's genetics stumbled onto their Achilles' heel."

Ripley, growing tired of the theories surrounding her, chimed in, "Guys, I appreciate the concern, but I'm not a government experiment. I'm just as confused about this as you are."

Nikolai, his tone offended but still confident, interjected, "Ripley's immunity might have a scientific explanation. Perhaps some genetic anomaly or a unique mental resilience. It doesn't necessarily mean it's a government plot. During my astral projections to the Upside Down, I've encountered entities that exist beyond our understanding. "

Murray, not fully horrified, crossed his arms. The others stared at him in anticipation for more gnosis. Ripley's curiosity had led her to ask Nikolai about astral projection, a term that seemed foreign and mysterious to her.

"What's astral projection?" she inquired, her eyes filled with genuine curiosity.

Nikolai took a deep breath, his gaze wandering into the distance as if reliving memories. "Astral projection is a kind of out-of-body experience. Your consciousness separates from your physical body, allowing you to explore different planes of existence. I used to do it a lot," he added, almost wistfully.

Ricky's eyes widened in horror at the revelation. "You willingly went to that creepy place, voluntarily?"

Nikolai nodded, a solemn look in his eyes. "It's not creepy for everyone. Sure sometimes it can be scary to confront your own shadows and that of others. For me, it was a way to gather information, to see beyond what's visible. They made me do it at Hawkins Lab all the time as a kid. They'd put me in this deprivation chamber with salts in it, sort of like the ones I put Marshall in."

Ripley's eyes widened at the revelation, a mix of sympathy and disbelief playing across her features. "That's... horrible," she said softly.

"It was," Nikolai added, his tone carrying a hint of resignation. "The government was convinced they could make us into super soldiers and control minds. They experimented on kids like me... and like Eleven. Tried to fry my noggin so that I couldn't tell anyone. It didn't work. Too strong!" The boy knocked on the side of his head, smiling like a madman.

Everyone's discomfort deepened as they processed the information. The ties between their experiences, the government's involvement, and the mysterious occurrences in Hawkins were becoming more intricate by the moment.

Nikolai's eyes narrowed in thought as he turned to Ripley. "Did you ever get any vaccines as a child? Anything unusual?"

Ripley furrowed her brow, struggling to recall her childhood memories. "I got so many vaccines; I can't remember specifics. Why?"

Murray, ever the conspiracy theorist, chimed in, "I can check your medical records."

Nikolai, however, quickly dismissed the idea. "No, we can't risk attracting more attention from the feds. Ripley, focus. Try to remember." Urgently, Nikolai took Ripley's shoulders, staring into her eyes as if searching for answers within. "Think, Ripley. It might be crucial."

Ripley nodded, closing her eyes in concentration. "Maybe we can astral project together, try to explore my memories."

Ricky, visibly terrified by the prospect, interjected, "No way! You're not going alone. I'm coming with you." The fear in his eyes betrayed his concern for Ripley's safety.

Nikolai's gaze softened as he heard Ripley's assurance. "Ripley, this might take us to some deep and possibly unsettling places. Are you sure you're comfortable with that? Your most hidden memories might surface."

Ripley met his gaze with unwavering determination. "Nikolai, if we're in this together, Ricky deserves to know everything about me. I've got nothing to hide from him."

Nikolai nodded in acknowledgment, a sense of trust building between them. With Ricky's concerned gaze lingering, they prepared for the ritual.

As the circle formed in the greenhouse, the air grew thick with anticipation. Ricky, Ripley, and Nikolai sat in quiet concentration around the altar that held an assortment of mystic symbols and artifacts. The soft glow of ethereal plants bathed the space in an otherworldly light.

Inside the bunker, Murray and Marshall exchanged uneasy glances. Murray, ever the skeptic, couldn't help but dismiss the proceedings as "mumbo jumbo."

"I mean, come on, plants that make you sick? People astral projecting? This is like a sci-fi horror story," he muttered to Marshall.

Marshall, a firm believer in the paranormal, offered a defense for Nikolai. "Look, I've seen some strange things in my time. If Nikolai says he's onto something, we should at least consider it. The world's a lot weirder than we think."

As the debate continued within the bunker, the trio in the greenhouse began their journey into the unknown, ready to explore the depths of Ripley's memories through astral projection. Ripley's grip on Ricky's hand tightened, a tangible connection anchoring her in the physical world. The soft flickering of candles cast dancing shadows around them, while the sweet scent of incense filled the air. As Ripley delved deeper into her subconscious, the scene morphed into a memory of her past. She found herself back in a hospital, a younger version of herself resisting the doctors. The memory played out vividly – a struggle against unseen forces, the scent of antiseptic, and the distant echoes of muffled voices.
In the corner of the room, Ricky and Nikolai observed, their current selves mere spectral witnesses to Ripley's past. Ricky, overwhelmed by the desire to intervene, felt Nikolai's firm grip on his arm.

"It's just a memory. She can't see us," Nikolai whispered, a reminder that their presence was only to bare witness to Ripley's memory.

The hospital scene transformed and the air crackled with an eerie energy. The memory revealed itself with a sharp clarity. Ripley, having just received the vaccine, almost instantly reacted adversely. Purple stripes, reminiscent of the burns caused by the vines, marred her skin. The sudden allergic reaction cast a pall over the room, and panic seized the medical staff. Ripley's mother was forcibly escorted out, leaving her daughter in the hands of the doctors.

The candle's flame went out and Ripley's eyes snapped open. The sudden return to the present left her breathless, beads of sweat forming on her forehead as she uttered a desperate mantra. "No more, no more, no more." The unearthed memory had sent tremors through her, and the raw emotion lingered in the air like a haunting echo. Ricky enveloped Ripley in a comforting embrace. She cried, the tears mingling with the haunting memories that had surfaced during their astral journey.

Chapter Text

The aroma of various cuisines wafted through the air, enticing Charlie's senses as she surveyed the diverse food court at Starcourt Mall. The vibrant lights, lively atmosphere, and the array of tempting delights beckoned to her, momentarily distracting her from the uncertainties that lay ahead.

As Charlie ventured deeper into the mall, the eclectic mix of people captured her attention. Families enjoying meals together, friends sharing laughter, and shoppers immersed in the allure of retail therapy formed a mosaic of human connection. It was a stark contrast to the solitude and uncertainty she had experienced on her journey.

Her stomach, a relentless reminder of her immediate needs, growled audibly, prompting Charlie to scan the food court for an option that would appease her hunger. The choices were abundant – from savory fast food to sweet confections, each stall vying for her attention.

Without hesitation, Charlie made her way to a vendor offering an assortment of comforting, hearty meals. The tantalizing scent of fresh burgers, fries, and other delectables filled the air. The Hello Kitty backpack slung over her arm, she approached the counter, a glimmer of excitement in her eyes.

In the vibrant hustle and bustle of Starcourt Mall, Ripley found solace in the company of Max and Eleven. The trio navigated the gleaming aisles of shops, weaving through the crowds as they exchanged glances and gestures. Ripley, eager for some girl time, shared the recent events involving the mysterious vines, Ethan's arrival, and the unsettling revelation from her astral projection.

As Ripley spoke, Eleven's gaze remained fixed on her, a silent understanding passing between them. Despite Eleven's sparse use of words, her presence spoke volumes, and the connection between the two girls transcended the need for extensive verbal communication.

Max, chiming in with her characteristic assertiveness, added her thoughts to the mix. "So, you're telling me these vines are like, picking people up and dropping them here?"

Ripley nodded, a furrow of concern etching her brow. "Yeah, it's weird. But the craziest part is that Ricky and Ethan got infected, but I didn't. Nikolai and Murray think it might be some kind of experiment or disease, but I'm not so sure. They say it's not even real, it's all in your head. Nikolai cooked up this cure for Ricky and it fixed him."

Eleven, her expression mirroring curiosity, extended a hand toward Ripley, silently offering support. The three of them had a great day of trying on different outfits and goofing off and were deciding to wind down with some food. Ripley's order came out first since it was simple enough, or maybe there was some issue with the fryer. Nobody who worked there was paid enough to care.

The nearby electronic store had 9 televisions all stacked 3x3 displaying whatever was on channel 4 at any given time. The news was on now and showing some burning building in Ohio. El seemed to become entranced by the broadcast, slipping into a memory and detaching from her worldly body in what must have been a bad way because she said nothing. Ripley and Max exchanged a look but said nothing. All there was to do in times like this were wait it out and hope not to get smacked by a flailing arm, on occasion. The girl was snapped out of her trance when her order number was called and Max was right after.
Lots of children went missing and it wasn't until very recently that malls began advertising that the Lost and Found could also be used to return missing children to their parents. It was easy to spot a missing child, Ripley was often the one getting lost on account of her parents carelessness. It was a miracle she hadn't been trafficked somewhere. She was mid bite of her hot dog when she noticed a little girl who looked like she had been through boot camp. As she was helping the child into a chair and sliding her plate over she noticed that the news station had changed subjects back to that missing child. It looked an awful lot like the one that had just come up to her.

"Do you want something? I can get you whatever you want," Ripley offered, chewing her lip anxiously. Her friends returned each with their own brand of bewilderment evident in their expressions.

The little girl, wide-eyed and apprehensive, seemed hesitant at first. Her gaze shifted between Ripley's earnest expression and the enticing array of food on the table. After a moment's contemplation, she timidly pointed to a simple cheeseburger and a small portion of fries. Ripley, eager to provide comfort, quickly signaled the cashier and placed an order for the requested items.
As they waited, Max and Eleven exchanged glances, both unsure of the unfolding situation. The atmosphere in the mall had shifted, taking on a surreal quality as the mundane surroundings became the backdrop for a potential life-changing encounter. The news broadcast continued in the background, detailing the story of a missing child. Ripley stole a glance at the screen. The coincidences between the news report and the little girl sitting across from her were too striking to ignore. The food arrived, and Ripley carefully set the tray before the young girl, who stared at the meal with a mix of hunger and uncertainty. Ripley, still processing the implications of the moment, hesitated before offering a gentle smile.

"You can eat as much as you want, okay?" Ripley assured her, aware that the next steps could be crucial.

Max and Eleven, now fully engaged in the situation, awaited Ripley's decision, their expressions reflecting a blend of concern and determination.

Eleven's eyes widened with recognition as she uttered a single word— "Seven." The atmosphere in the mall seemed to shift, becoming charged with a mix of tension and intrigue. Ripley and Max exchanged uneasy glances, their collective curiosity piqued by Eleven's unexpected revelation.

"Seven?" Ripley echoed, glancing between Eleven and the girl named Charlie. The revelation hung in the air like a mysterious thread connecting the present to Hawkins Lab's dark past.

Max, having seen the newscast, recognized the missing girl as the Mayor's daughter, urged them to inform Hopper. They waited until he came to pick them up and they all went right to the mayor's house to return the missing girl. Everyone had thought she'd burned to death in some freak accident at a store her father was helping renovate. There were hopes that it would bring commerce to the town by the time this strange pandemic was over, but those dreams were dashed.

Mayor Harris, overwhelmed with relief and gratitude, insisted on rewarding Hopper and the girls for bringing his daughter home. The small group stood in the grand foyer of the mayor's house, an air of tension lingering despite the joyful reunion.

"Officer Hopper, I can't thank you enough for bringing my Charlie back. I don't know what we would have done without you," Mayor Harris said, his voice filled with genuine appreciation.

Hopper, uncomfortable with the praise but accepting it nonetheless, nodded solemnly. "Just doing my job, Mayor. I'm glad she's safe and sound. And I'm sorry to hear about the fire I was really looking forward to having some nice, quiet old tourists that don't cause any trouble."

Charlie, still a bit bewildered by the events, clung to Eleven's hand for comfort. Ripley and Max exchanged glances, both relieved and uneasy about the unexpected turn of events. With that, the mayor pulled out his checkbook, and Hopper, Ripley, Eleven, and Max left, the weight of their recent discoveries and actions settling in.

Inside the mayor's house, the atmosphere shifted dramatically as Mayor Harris and his wife, Evelyn, retreated into the privacy of their opulent living room. The air was thick with tension as the couple exchanged heated words, their argument escalating.

"I told you we should have left that little freak at the lab!" Evelyn hissed, her voice cutting through the air like a blade.

Mayor Harris, his face contorted in frustration, shot back, "Evelyn, she's my daughter! And she's a valuable tool in wielding peoples minds."

The conversation echoed down the elegant halls, contrasting sharply with the luxurious surroundings. It became painfully clear that the mayor's actions were driven more by political necessity than genuine parental concern.

"You've ruined everything!" Evelyn accused, her anger revealing years of pent-up resentment.

The revelation hung heavily in the air. The mayor had adopted Charlie not out of compassion but as a calculated move to bolster his public image. The term "little freak" left a bitter taste in the small girl's mouth, exposing a darker side to the seemingly respectable woman she was now forced to call her mother. The mention of responsibility held a hollow ring, revealing the mayor's struggle to balance political appearances with the complexities of family life.

As Ripley stepped out of Hopper's truck, Eleven hugged her tightly, a rare display of affection. "Goodbye, Ripley. See you," she whispered, her gaze intense. She started to walk away from the hug, adding on "Later. See you later!" She looked proud of herself.

Ripley grinned, waving the other girl away, "Yeah, for sure! You take care, tell your dad thanks again," she replied, appreciating the mostly silent connection they shared.

Hopper nodded at Ripley, a hint of a smile on his gruff face. "Thanks for helpin' out, kid! You did good," he acknowledged, a subtle approval roaring over his running engine.

Ripley chuckled, giving a casual salute. "Anytime, Chief. I'm just a phone call away if you need the degenerate touch."

Hopper smirked and rolled his eyes, the truck's engine rumbling.

Ripley waved as the truck pulled away, leaving her standing on the quiet street. As the headlights faded, she sighed, feeling a mix of exhaustion and accomplishment. Turning on her heels, she strolled towards her house, contemplating the surreal events of the day.

Meanwhile, in the truck, Eleven sat quietly. The radio played a soft tune in the background. Hopper glanced at her and spoke, breaking the silence. "You did good too, kid. Real good."

Eleven nodded, her gaze fixed on the passing trees. "Going home," she mumbled, her words carrying a sense of contentment.

Hopper chuckled, ruffling her hair gently. "Yeah, kid. We're almost home."

The truck continued its journey, headlights cutting through the darkness as the cozy cabin in the woods approached. Eleven's usually composed demeanor began to unravel. She stared blankly ahead, lost in her thoughts about the rescued girl. The Mayor had called her Charlie, but Eleven knew her as Seven. Memories of a toddler with extraordinary abilities flooded Eleven's mind. The last time she saw Seven, the child had possessed the potential for great destruction.

Suddenly, Eleven's breathing quickened, and her hands trembled. Panic gripped her, and she clutched at the edge of her seat. The images in her mind became overwhelming, and she struggled to contain the emotions welling up inside her.

Hopper noticed the sudden change in Eleven's demeanor. Glancing over at her, concern etched on his face, he spoke firmly, "Hey, what's going on, El? Talk to me."

Eleven looked at Hopper, her wide eyes betraying the fear within. She hesitated, trying to find the words to convey the weight of her memories. "Seven... not Charlie. Seven," she stammered, her voice trembling with anxiety.

Hopper's grip on the steering wheel tightened. "Seven? What do you mean, El? What's the matter?"

Struggling to articulate the complexity of her emotions, Eleven finally blurted out, "Danger. Power. I remember... danger."

Hopper's expression hardened, realizing the gravity of Eleven's revelation. He absorbed her panic, his protective instincts kicking in. "El, what danger? Is Seven a threat?"

Eleven nodded, tears welling up in her eyes. "Danger. Long ago. Very powerful. Must stop."

Hopper's jaw tightened. He drove faster towards their cabin, determination in his eyes. The truck sped through the night, now carrying with it the weight of a shared history and an impending danger. The truck pulled up to the quiet cabin nestled in the woods. Hopper cut the engine, and the forest settled into a hushed stillness.

Eleven, her eyes filled with turmoil, unfastened her seatbelt, but before she could open the door, Hopper spoke, his voice firm, "El, we need to talk about this. What's going on with Seven?"

Eleven's gaze met Hopper's, and a wave of frustration washed over her. "I have to save my friends," she declared, her voice wavering between urgency and desperation.

Hopper stepped out of the truck, sighing deeply. "El, we can't just rush into this without a plan. We need to understand what we're dealing with."

"No time! They're in danger now," Eleven insisted, her agitation growing.

Hopper moved closer, his expression stern. "We can't risk everything without knowing what we're up against. We need information, a plan—"

Frustration bubbled within Eleven, her emotions escalating. "No more talking!" she exclaimed, her hands trembling.

Hopper reached out, trying to calm her. "El, listen—"

But Eleven couldn't contain her frustration any longer. The air crackled with energy as she unleashed a burst of telekinetic force, sending a nearby chair crashing against the cabin wall. Panting, she looked at Hopper, tears streaming down her face.

"Please, Dad," she pleaded, her voice breaking.

The silent woods echoed her distress, and Hopper, though concerned, understood the depth of her determination. The cabin stood as a quiet witness to the tumultuous emotions that now filled the night. Feeling the surge of Eleven's emotions, Hopper closed the distance between them, wrapping her in a comforting embrace. He held her tightly, allowing the tension to slowly dissipate. Eleven, her face buried in Hopper's shoulder, cried softly, the weight of her fears and the urgency of the situation pressing on her.

Hopper whispered soothingly, "It's gonna be okay, El. We'll figure this out together. But right now, we both need some rest."

Eleven nodded, still clinging to Hopper. After a moment, she pulled back, wiping away her tears.

Hopper nodded, offering a reassuring smile. "We'll come up with a plan in the morning, alright?"

She nodded again, her trust in Hopper evident. Together, they entered the cabin, the door closing behind them, shutting out the dark uncertainties of the night. As they settled in for a restless sleep, the faint glow of hope remained, a beacon in the face of impending danger. The next day would bring new challenges, but for now, they found solace in the quiet comfort of the cabin and the promise of a fresh start.

Chapter Text

Ripley stirred awake, blinking against the morning light filtering through her bedroom window. As she tried to make sense of her surroundings, she realized her house was not as quiet as it should be. A muffled snore came from her mom's room, and the distant sound of laughter reached her ears. Glancing around, she discovered Ricky beside her, still deep in slumber. Max and Lucas had commandeered her mom's room, surrounded by a scattering of empty snack wrappers and soda cans.
The unmistakable aroma of pancakes wafted from the kitchen. Nikolai lay sprawled in the hallway, peacefully unconscious, and Ripley carefully stepped over him. Eddie's absence caught her attention, and she stumbled into the bathroom, finding him huddled on the cold floor, hugging the toilet for dear life. His groans of misery confirmed what she suspected – a brutal hangover.

Ripley chuckled, shaking her head as she tried to wrestle him out the door. "Eddie, I have to piss!"

Eddie squinted up at her, his voice a hoarse whisper. "Ripley, never again. Remind me never to drink with Nikolai."

Ripley offered him a sympathetic grin. "Yeah, you might want to stick to lighter stuff next time," she said, failing to get him out of the way and using him as a footrest while she did her business.

With that Eddie was motivated to get back on his feet and into the kitchen, where the breakfast feast was underway. Laughter and banter filled the air as the group began to wake up and gather once more. As they sat down to enjoy pancakes and reminisce about the wild night, Ripley couldn't help but smile. Despite the strangeness that had become a norm in Hawkins, she found solace in the camaraderie of her friends, even if it meant there was a hell of a clean-up after.

Mike groggily blinked open his eyes, adjusting to the sudden presence in the room. The remnants of a chaotic night played like a nightmare in his mind. He shifted on the couch, feeling the unfamiliar lumps beneath him.

Dustin, wearing an apron that declared him the "Breakfast Queen," approached, a plate in hand. "Morning, sleeping beauty! Got you some sustenance," he chirped.

Mike merely grunted in response, reaching out to take the plate. He laid back down, the food now resting on his chest. Dustin chuckled, taking the plate and leaving it on the coffee table. "You're a real morning person, Wheeler."

Mike mumbled something unintelligible, before eventually sitting back up. He was already digging into the food without much enthusiasm before opening his eyes all the way. The room buzzed with the energy of their friends. As Mike savored the breakfast, he couldn't help but appreciate the simple joy of being surrounded by friends, even if his morning demeanor suggested otherwise.

In the bunker, Marshall was still nursing his burns and he couldn't shake the feeling of isolation. While Murray took a much-needed nap, Marshall eyed the old rotary phone on the makeshift table, an idea forming in his mind. He gingerly sat up, wincing at the pain, and reached for the phone. As his fingers hovered over the dial, the temptation to reassure his worried mother overwhelmed him. He dialed the familiar numbers, the rotary clicks echoing in the small space. But just as he was about to speak, Murray's eyes snapped open.

Murray, with a mix of annoyance and concern, demanded, "And jus what the hell do you think you're doing?"

Startled, Marshall fumbled with the phone, guilt written across his face. "I just... I needed to let my mom know I'm okay. She's probably freaking out."

Murray shot him a stern look, his fatigue momentarily forgotten. "We've been over this, kid. You can't risk contacting anyone. It's too dangerous. We have protocols for a reason."

Marshall sighed, frustration evident. "I know, I just... I can't stand being down here, cut off from everything and everyone."

Murray's tone softened, understanding the strain on the boy. "Marshall, we're doing this to protect you. The more attention you draw, the more danger you're in. We'll find a way to resolve this, but you have to trust the process."

Marshall lowered the phone, defeated. "It just feels like I'm a prisoner here. I need some kind of connection, anything."

Murray sighed, his exhaustion returning as he confiscated the phone. "I get it, kid. But a lot more than you is in danger. No phone calls. You wouldn't have even been able to get through to anyone with that thing."

Marshall nodded, the weight of confinement settling back in as the old rotary phone sat silent, a temporary connection denied. He looked over at the CB radio Murray kept and Murray noticed immediately, interjecting with, "Don't even think about it."

Just as disappointment settled over Marshall, the rotary phone on the table began to ring, breaking the silence. Both he and Murray exchanged a puzzled glance. The older bespectacled man picked up the phone cautiously.

"Hopper," came a gruff voice from the other end.

Murray, his eyes narrowing, demanded, "Secret code. Now."

Hopper hesitated, the memory slipping from him. "Uh, yeah, the code. It's, uh... Hawkins... Heroes... Scoops... Something."

Murray's frustration grew, his voice stern, "Hopper, what's the last word?"

Hopper, becoming increasingly obfuscated, his voice raising, muttered, "I... I forgot, okay? I know what you did in Bangkok. Come on this is serious!"

Murray sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Hopper, you know the rules."

On the other end, Hopper grumbled, becoming more obfuscated by the second, "It's... some fucking Russian word! Freezer! The Russian word for fr-"

"Morozil'nik," Murray reminded him.

"What. Ever."

Murray's expression eased, a mix of annoyance and relief. "Alright, Hopper. What do you want?"

The cheerful ambiance in Ripley's house, filled with laughter and the aroma of breakfast, shifted as the phone rang. Ripley, in the midst of sharing a moment with Ricky, set down her coffee, her expression growing serious as she answered the call.

"Hopper?" she queried, the others sensing the change in the air.

On the other end, Hopper's voice carried a weight of urgency. "Ripley, we need a meeting. Round everyone up. It's important."

Ripley's brows furrowed, and she exchanged a concerned look with Ricky. "We're all pretty much rounded up. What's going on?"

Hopper hesitated before responding, "We've got something to discuss. Get everyone together. Now."

Ripley nodded, a sense of foreboding settling over her. As she hung up the phone, she turned to face her friends, the atmosphere in the room mirroring her newfound seriousness. "Hey, guys, we've got a meeting. Hopper says it's important. Let's gather everyone up."

The joyous morning, tinged with camaraderie, now carried a shadow of uncertainty. As the group assembled, the mysteries of Hawkins continued to unfold, casting a pall over the once carefree atmosphere in Ripley's home. Dustin took Ripley's place and holding the phone with determination, dialed Steve, who in turn reached out to Robin and Nancy. Meanwhile, Mike, aware of Will's reluctance, hesitated before calling the Byers. Johnathan picked up, and they exchanged a knowing silence through the phone lines.

"I know he won't want to join," Johnathan finally sighed upon hearing the request.

Mike nodded, a somber acknowledgment of the strained friendship. "We'll have to... convince him."

After some plotting, Mike and Johnathan hatched a plan to "kidnap" Will for the meeting. A reluctant agreement was reached, and the scene was set for an unexpected rendezvous. When the Byers arrived at the designated meeting spot, frustration was evident in Will's face. He found himself face to face with Mike. The tension in the air was palpable, and before anyone could speak, Will's voice sliced through the silence.

"Why the hell did you drag me here, Mike? This is so stupid!"

Mike sighed, shoulders tense, "We need you for something important, Will. Just hear us out."

The air hung heavy with unspoken words, the shadows of past conflicts lurking beneath the surface. As Mike began to explain the reason for the meeting, a spark of frustration flared within Will. "This is about Eleven, isn't it? Everything's about her! I'm sick of it, Mike!" Will shouted, the words punctuating the resentment that had festered within him.

Mike, defensive, shot back, "This isn't just about her, Will! We've got bigger problems! Can't you see that?!"

Their voices escalated, the argument escalating into a clash of emotions that had been building for far too long. Will, struggling with his unspoken feelings and the lingering effects of Vecna, couldn't contain the resentment any longer. As the echoes of their argument reverberated, the once unbreakable bond between Mike and Will caused everyone else to become concerned. Nikolai, attuned to the subtle energies surrounding them, gracefully stepped forward. With an air of serenity, he spoke in a voice that resonated with a spiritual wisdom.

"Dear friends, let us pause and attune ourselves to the cosmic energies around us," he said, his words carrying a transcendental quality. "In this intricate dance of existence, negativity disrupts the cosmic flow. Mike, Will, find the balance within, and harmonize with the divine rhythms that beats in all hearts as one."

Mike exchanged a quizzical glance with Will, who appeared captivated by Nikolai's spiritual insight. Continuing his guidance, Nikolai offered profound words rooted in a personally directed perspective towards Will.

"Life unfolds as a sacred journey, and love is the sacred thread that binds our souls. Embrace acceptance, for in doing so, you align with your true purpose. Do not doubt your path."

Nikolai's intervention, though unconventional, sparked a shift in the atmosphere. As they stood there, enveloped by the mysticism of his words, a fragile sense of unity emerged, reminding them that, in the grand tapestry of existence, they were all interconnected. As Nikolai's spiritual counsel lingered, Will and Nikolai exchanged a peculiar glance. It was a fleeting moment, but in that exchange, Will felt a strange sense of déjà vu. It was as if he almost recognized Nikolai from the vivid nightmares that had haunted him — nightmares where Nikolai had appeared, a mysterious figure trying to save him.
The air thickened with anticipation as everyone gathered on Ripley's lawn, and Will's emotions echoed the same overwhelming fear and vulnerability he had experienced in those unsettling dreams. Standing there, he realized that the surreal dreams and the tangible reality were intricately woven together. With a deep breath, Will turned to Mike, feeling a mix of hesitation and longing. As they embraced, a hug that transcended the bounds of time and distance, the weight of unspoken words and pent-up emotions finally found release.
Will's eyes welled with tears, mirroring the vulnerability he had felt in those haunting nightmares. In that moment, surrounded by friends, some old wounds began to heal. The embrace between Will and Mike, the first in ages, carried a profound significance. The others, sensing the gravity of the moment, looked on with a shared understanding of the complex journey they were all on. As Will cried, the tears seemed to carry not only the weight of past hurts but also the hope of newfound connections and the promise of healing.
As Mike and Will embraced, Dustin and Lucas, ever the supportive friends, joined the hug with enthusiasm. Will, wiping away his tears, found himself enveloped in a circle of camaraderie. The warmth of their friendship, temporarily forgotten amidst the turmoil, now radiated around them.

Dustin, always one for uplifting spirits, clapped Will on the back. "Man, you're the heart and soul of this group! No more tears, buddy!"

Lucas chimed in, "That's right! We've faced Demogorgons, Mind Flayers, and everything in between. Nothing can break us!"

Eddie, sensing the shift in dynamics, approached with a genuine smile. "I've decided to step down, out of respect. Will, you're the Dungeon Master."

Will, still caught in the emotional whirlwind, looked at Eddie with surprise.

Eddie continued, giving him a firm pat on the back, "You've got this, man."

The living room of Ripley's house became the focal point for a diverse assembly of individuals, each bringing their unique strengths and experiences to the table. The air was filled with a mix of determination and anticipation. Will, and Nikolai found themselves tasked with drawing up the plans, their skills merging to create a comprehensive strategy. Will, earnest and focused, sketched out the technical details, utilizing his understanding of structures and layouts. Nikolai, fueled by a newfound sense of purpose, added a touch of creativity, infusing the plans with a strategic flair, and with his unique perspective and connection to the ethereal, contributed factors most wouldn't consider. And Robin took the pen whenever someone was fucking up.

Eleven, her gaze focused and intense, spoke up during the planning session. "Charlie makes fire. Can burn everything."

The room fell into a thoughtful silence, absorbing the gravity of her concise warning. Eleven continued, "The store. Mayor's store. She burned it."

A collective realization dawned on the group, connecting the mysterious burned-down store to the fiery powers of the little girl they had encountered. The urgency of their mission became more apparent.

As everyone absorbed the information, Steve had a sudden realization. "Fire... Fire! Wait what if we use the little girl? Take her down there and have her fuck that thing up!"

Robin's eyes widened in horror at the suggestion. "Use her? Steve, you can't be serious! We're not talking about sacrificing a kid for some plan."

Hopper, ever pragmatic, chimed in, "Robin's right. We can't put a child in danger like that, no matter how powerful she is. We need another way, a safer way."

Nancy, her voice firm, added, "Using a child like that... it's no different than what Hawkins Lab did. We can't stoop to their level."

The room seemed to hold its breath, the weight of the decision hanging in the air. The Hellfire Club, the Byers, and their allies grappled with the moral implications of their next move, torn between the urgency of the situation and the ethical considerations of saving everyone. Murray and Nikolai returned to the bunker, intent on gathering supplies for the upcoming mission. To their shock, the underground refuge was eerily empty. The makeshift imprisonment Murray had attempted on Marshall had failed, leaving behind only a trashed bunker and a gaping hole in the greenhouse wall.
Their bewilderment turned to dread as they realized Marshall had escaped, and the signs of his departure were evident. Panic set in as the two of them comprehended the implications of the missing boy, and the urgency of the impending mission heightened. Unbeknownst to Eddie, Ripley, and Ricky waiting in the van beyond the gate, Feds swarmed Murray's property. The friends were oblivious to the unfolding drama as their allies, Nikolai and Murray, were escorted out from the back of the property.
Eddie, sensing trouble, revved up the van, ready to make a quick escape. The tension in the air was palpable as the Feds tightened their grip on Murray and Nikolai. Eddie, with Ripley and Ricky in tow, sped away from the chaotic scene, their minds racing with questions and uncertainty that have to be answered later. As Eddie accelerated the van desperation was etched into everyone's faces. The Feds, with more vehicles in pursuit, strategically cut off the road, leaving him with no escape route. The once-open path now closed in, trapping Eddie and his friends in a high-stakes chase.
The tension inside the van soared as the realization set in that escape was no longer an option. Eddie's knuckles whitened on the steering wheel, and glances were exchanged between Ripley and Ricky. The looming threat of capture by the authorities added an extra layer of urgency to their already complex mission. The van slowed to a halt as agents closed in, leaving the group surrounded by an ominous silence, their fate hanging in the balance. In the face of this unexpected roadblock, they were left with no choice but to confront the unfolding circumstances head-on.
As the group found themselves apprehended and confined to a government transport van, the air inside grew heavy with tension. Nikolai, sensing the urgency of their situation, attempted to use his powers. However, in the chaos of the moment, his aim went awry, and the force meant to protect instead took hold of Eddie's beloved van. Eddie's eyes widened in shock as his cherished vehicle was lifted into the air.

"Hey man HEY HEY WRONG FUCKING CAR! HEY!" he began to shout, attempting to intervene, but the damage was done.

The sleek black government vehicle bore the brunt of the unintended assault, and Eddie's van, suspended in mid-air, became an unwitting projectile. Before any further chaos could unfold, the Feds, quick to react, sedated Nikolai, halting his abilities in their tracks. Murray, who had resisted arrest, also succumbed to the sedation. In the abrupt stillness that followed, the group was left subdued and confined within the transport van, their escape attempts thwarted and their future uncertain.