No Surrender | Eddie Munson

Chapter Thirty: Negotiations

CHAPTER THIRTY: NEGOTIATIONS

HATE MYSELF — DODIE

But how can you not hear
The whole conversation I have sitting still with a brain on fire?
I know it's a me thing
Eyes closed isn't helping
When you go quiet I hate myself

——————

"Okay, so you're saying the Upside Down is connected to all of this?"

It takes a while before I can think clearly enough to describe the attack. Huddled in a blanket Steve managed to snag from one of the stores, I curl up on a chair in the Scoops Ahoy break room. A cup of tea warms my hands but it isn't enough. I'm still shivering. "I don't know."

It's just us now. Robin is home, oblivious to all of this mess, and Dustin is still on a stakeout on the roof. Steve continues to pace, agitatedly twirling an ice cream scoop around in his hand. "You're saying the Upside Down is con—"

"I'm saying I don't know!"

"You said 'Upside Down'! You specifically said 'Upside Down'! A-And 'cold'. Like a symptom? Like— Like you're— Like you're feeling it again?"

Shrugging, I take another sip. It's far too strong but I don't mind so much at this point. I was never a fan of tea, anyway. The taste always falls short. "I don't know."

Still, he paces. "But I thought you closed the Gate with El, like, months ago."

"That Gate, at least," I mutter.

This brings him to a stop. "I'm sorry, are you saying there's another Gate? Are you shitting me?"

"I just— I don't know, okay? I don't! All I know is it's not at the lab. I checked. It's somewhere near, I just can't— I can't— Fuck!" I snap, slamming the mug down on the table. The sharp bang shocks through my skull and lukewarm tea splashes my fingers. I wince, and address him with a much softer tone, "Look, can you please just call the cabin again and see if my dad or El are there?"

"I have. I'm sorry, no one's answering. Nobody's at the Byers', either. And apparently Nancy didn't come home from work last night. Think we have to face that nobody's coming to help us this time. We're alone in this."

A long sigh weighs my body down as he slumps into the chair opposite me. I reach out, grasping onto his fidgeting hands for some kind of anchor. His nerves only flow through me, worsening my own fear. "I'm finally getting my life together, I'm— I'm happy — really happy. I can't do this again. This is scaring me, Steve."

He tries a smile. It doesn't come. "I know. Me, too."

"God, we're pretty shit for Batman and Robin, aren't we?"

—

Hours pass. I spent most of it sleeping, even as the mall wakes and customers pour in. A breakfast burrito is set in front of me once Dustin and Robin arrive. I nibble on it, listening to his theories. "That key card opens the door but, unfortunately, the Russian with this key card also has a massive gun. Whatever's in this room, whatever's in those boxes, they really don't want anybody finding it."

"Do you think they're connected to..." Steve trails off, catching Robin's eye. "Never mind. Probably stupid."

She nods in agreement. "But there's gotta be a way in."

He blows some fluff off of his hat. "Well, you know... I could just take him out."

"Take who out?"

"The Russian guard." Sitting back, she raises her eyebrows. "What?" he huffs. "I sneak up behind him, I knock him out, and I take his key card. It's easy."