The Devil's Gift/The Bloody Handed

4

"What the hell happened?" Robin asks.

"Was it a bad dream? A nightmare?" Dustin urges.

"Calm down guys," Nancy urges.

"Let her speak, Jesus!" Erica exclaims.

"Let her talk." Max says with her headphones in.

"I-" I try to choke out more words but I wasn't sure where to begin.

"Hey." Eddie motions for me to look him in the eyes. I look at his hands feeling his rings and big hand resting on my small fingers. "Take your time." He reassures. I nod and take a breath. I couldn't focus all that well knowing he was touching me for the weirdest reason. I just needed a hug. I remember the hug I gave him when I thanked him for coming back for me. I mentally smile as I remember him embracing me back. He had such a gentle persona it was addicting sometimes. I shake my head trying to bring myself down to reality.

"Uh- oh. Yeah- trouble. I was like.. drowning in a room full of nothing. It was pitch black and my voice reverberated off of nothing. I thought maybe I could find an exit, but I found another way to leave. To imagine another place. Then everything started to suffocate me, like water was filling my lungs. Everyone was in trouble. I don't know what I saw I can't quite remember- they were small half second flashes. I just remember seeing a glimpse of every one of you and it wasn't good."

I shake my head and immediately put my hands over my eyes, sliding off Eddie's grasp. I put my fist to my mouth and blow. "I think it was a sign or.. something." I slap my hands on my thighs clueless.

"Like.. a psychic?" Lucus asks.

"I'm not sure. But I think we need to be cautious." I turn back to look out of the window. The green trees blend together and become a blur. It's how my life felt these last few days, and I wasn't even sure how long I've been gone for. Everything just started to blend.

"What if..." Nancy starts as she looks over to everyone else.

"What if what?" Eddie asks almost desperately.

"What if she's like Eleven." Steve says from the drivers seat. I hear murmuring and turn my head. Everyone is looking at me in disbelief.

"Eleven? Mike's girlfriend who opened the portal? How the hell is that possible, are you all crazy?!" I was starting to get annoyed. It was just a nightmare. "I wasn't in a lab or anything like that. I was normal before I moved here."

"The ringing, the screams you heard.. the dream you just had. It might indicate something a little more." Dustin muses. "This is insane." He walks away almost bewildered.

"Is there anyone we can ask? Anything we can do?" I look at Max and Lucus who then exchange glances with eachother. They both nod and tighten their expressions.

"Yeah, we might know a way." Dustin says from the back as he paces back and forth.

"No. No, no, no. We are NOT doing that!" Robin exclaims pointing a finger at me. "This poor girl does not need more exposure than she already has." She sounded like she knew where Dustin was heading with his idea.

"If it has anything to do with possible death I think we should pass and find another way." Eddie says.

I put a hand in Eddie's face, seeing him scrunch his forehead in response. "No, no- I want to hear it. Go on Dustin."

He turns around and looks at me getting closer. "We need to go to the Upside Down again."

I swallow hard. "Did you not see what happened last time? I nearly couldn't even walk." I say silently remembering the pain I was in.