𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐀 𝐅𝐄𝐄𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐆 ✪ 𝙬. 𝙗𝙮𝙚𝙧𝙨

★10

chapter ten.
stupid zoomer
.✧*:･ﾟ

"𝙔𝙀𝘼𝙃, 𝙏𝙃𝙄𝙎 𝙒𝙄𝙇𝙇 work" Hopper murmured as he, Mike and Em stared at the small run down shed in Will's garden. Ember helped them clear out the small building completely, using her powers to move the objects inside to a small heap outside. Stage one was complete.

Next, they had to completely disguise any aspect of the room that Will may recognise. Em watched on as Nancy and Steve worked in awkward silence taping and stapling different sheets of fabric over the walls. Nancy suddenly spoke.

"Hey," She began, staring at Steve intently. Ember felt weird listening into their conversation, so she turned and made her way back to the house to give them some privacy. As she entered through the back door, she saw Max and Mike rooting around in the kitchen. She crouched down beside Max silently, and they nodded to one another. Mike hadn't turned around yet, still rummaging in the cupboard under the sink.

"I get why El was your mage now." Max said quietly, as Mike placed a bottle of something Em didn't recognize down beside her.

"What?"

"Lucas. He told me all about her." Max said, smiling slightly.

"Well he shouldn't have." Mike sighed. "And just because you know the truth, doesn't mean you're in our party."

"Mike, come on.." Em started. Why was Mike acting so cold towards Max? He hadn't had one pleasant exchange with her since they first met. Unless you counted that odd incident in the gym.

Mike ignored her, still staring at Max. "You do know that, right?"

Max looked defeated, but still tried to smile, looking down at her hands. "Yeah, I know"

Mike began to search in the cupboards again, but Max wasn't finished. "I mean, why would you want a stupid zoomer in your party anyways?" Mike didn't answer, so she continued.

"I'm just saying. El? She sounds like she was really awesome."

"Yeah, she was." Ember and Mike both said in unison. Ember's vision began to blur with tears, as she gave Max a watery smile, remembering her conversation with her sister in the Void.

"Until that- thing- took her" Mike muttered, turning to the two girls. "Just like it took Bob." He stood up, his arms laden with chemicals and all sorts of products, and left without another word. Ember sighed, and Max threw her hands up in defeat. "I really can't do anything right, can I?" She said quietly. Ember placed a hand on her shoulder reassuringly. "Don't worry Max, he'll come around eventually. He's still not right after what happened with El." She comforted.

Just as the group were adding the finishing touches to the shed, Jonathan entered, carrying a still unconscious Will. Ember wondered what had happened earlier that day, what had been the final straw for the Shadow Monster. She watched sadly as ropes binded him to a lone chair in the middle of the shed. Lights were shone onto his resting figure, now drooping against his shackling, his hair falling over his face.

It was only her, Mike, Hopper, Joyce, and Jonathan now. She had been requested by Joyce, for protection, just in case something went wrong. The rest of the group were waiting inside the house. Ember could feel Joyce shaking slightly beside her, and she crept her hand into the older woman's one, squeezing it tight. She had been through so much today, she needed some form of comfort, even if it was as simple as a hand to hold onto. Joyce looked at her in suprise, but she smiled softly at Em and grasped her hand tighter as Hopper whispered to her.

Hopper slowly walked over to Will, carrying the bottle of chemicals Mike had found earlier in the kitchen. He opened the bottle, and poured some onto a small pad, before gently holding it up to Will's nose. Ember jumped as his eyes shot open, the usually bright chocolate brown oddly dark, as if clouds were covering it, or shadows.