𝘳𝘢𝘣𝘣𝘪𝘵𝘴 ~ (ᴍɪᴋᴇ ᴡʜᴇᴇʟᴇʀ)

.17.

The water was brutal - not because of the warmth, however, but because of what came with it, what they excepted her to do. Five shook unforgivingly as soon as the liquid touched her but not wanting to disappoint Joyce and Hopper, she continued. Eleven and she lay down in the water, floating, with the goggles blocking out everything. The lights flickered, earning the attention of everyone in the room - especially, Hopper, who looked to his daughter with a strange and unwelcome unfamiliarity and worry.

But then Five was back there. Just like when they were looking for the Demogorgon - Five looked behind her to see El. Sharing a short nod they ventured further into the unknown but kept their hands intertwined.

"Barb?" Eleven called, looking to her right - Five turned to see it too, "Barbara?"

In front of the trembling girls, lay a pile of sludge, mixed with elements of wood. "Oh god," Five cried, unobtrusively, as they neared the girl. The look of Barbara was something neither girl would ever forget. Grime and dirt covered her corpse, but with an equal part of blood dotted everywhere. A small - slug-like animal crawled from her mouth, making Five stumble back.

"Is barb okay?" Nancy's voice rang through the void, "Is she okay?"

"Gone! Gone!" Eleven screamed. "Gone," The other girl sobbed, "Gone."

"It's okay, it's okay," Joyce told the girls, grabbing Elevens hand, while Hopper held his daughters. "It's okay, hey it's okay. I got you."

"You're safe," Five registered her father's voice and exhaled - the two reappearing in front of a worn-out fort.

"Castle Byers," She announced, taking lead in front of the still panicked El.

Cautiously, Five lifted the blanket, covering the fort - ignoring how it was covered in slime. "Will?" She asked the young boy, who was lay down. Comfortingly, she grabbed his hand and listened to his mother's words before repeating them, "You're mom... she's coming."

The boy, freezing and sick, opened his eyes weakly before telling her, "Hurry."

"Just hold a little longer," Five smiled down at him but he went unconscious, "Will? Will?" The boy remained unmoving - except his pupils moving back and forth behind his eyelid - and the sturdy Castle Byers began to disappear around her. Five looked around for Eleven but it seemed she had disappeared, as well, causing the girl to huddle into herself.

Hopper looked behind him at the radio - his ears pained to hear his daughter cries - but his attention drew back to the tub when both girls shot up. Five ripped off her goggles and stumbled out of the tub - backing away from the water.

"Hey it's okay," Hopper grabbed her shoulders, "You're okay. I'm sorry, kid. You're okay."

-

"Where are you going?" Five, wrapped in a yellow towel - on her insistence - stood shaking in front of Hopper's car.

"Finding Will," He said curtly about to get into the car.

Five furrowed her eyebrows, "You said you won't leave."

Hopper sighed at his daughter's frustration, "Well, I have to do this."

"But-but you promised," She looked to him confused, "You-you said you won't leave again. Why do you lie?"

"I don't lie, kid, I'll be back," Hopper tried again to get into the car but she shut the door with her mind, "You're a liar!"

"I knew you gave me to Papa a-and you'll do it again!" She screamed.

"Hey, what? Calm down-"

"No, you lie," Five spat - trying to remain strong but the tears flooding from her eyes told a different story.

"I promise you, I'll be back," He sternly asserted, "I'm sorry but I'll be back."

Without warning, he and Joyce took off - leaving the girl alone.

"Mouthbreather."