We can be Heroes - Stranger Things

Chapter 4: Illusions

"Hello, Jane."

El froze, unsure of what to say or do. She was lost for words. With everything going on with her brother, she almost forgot about her sister.

Kali sent her an understanding look. "Can we talk?"

El nodded in response and led her to the other side of the cabin; Will waving politely as he passed them.

"How have you been?" El asked after a moment of awkward silence. She looked down at her hands.

"No, no small talk," Kali smiled softly before clearing her throat. "Since you left, I've had a lot of time to think. About what you said. I was so confused on why you would risk your life to save others, when they couldn't save you. But then, it just... clicked. They were your family." She sighed before staring into her sisters eyes, "When we were together, I forced my anger onto you and used your powers to help enact my revenge. It wasn't fair to you. I'm sorry."

El looked up and saw the sincerity of the words in Kali's expression.

She continued, "My joy in seeing you; that was real. Finding out that you were alive and well was the best news I've ever gotten. You're my sister, Jane. I'm here to help you. I want to help you."

El smiled at Kali's words. She did miss having a sister, "thank you. It means a lot." She paused, "are your friends okay?"

Kali smiled at the mention of her little family. "They're good. They all say hi-"

"Even the man who hates spiders?"

"Hahah, yes, even Axel. I asked them to stay back: I didn't want them in any danger," she stated before gesturing to her surroundings. "I saw on the news about what happened. It wasn't really an earthquake, was it, Jane?"

El shook her head, "no."

Kali listened intently as Eleven told her the story. From start to finish. She refused to miss out any details, just in case it could be important.

"Oh, and... Papa's dead," she finished with a grimace. "For real this time. I saw it happen."

"Right," Kali nodded, her expression one that El could not decipher.

"So you want me to help you get rid of number 1."

"That's correct," El said with the shake of her head, "I fought him before, but lost. I can't lose again."

Eleven had been mentally beating herself up about losing against 001. She had never lost before and she couldn't say she liked the feeling. She just couldn't shake the idea that she had let everyone down.

"And you won't. We can do this. We just need a plan." Kali insisted with a reassuring smile.

El sighed before looking at her sister, "Can I hug you?"

She nodded with a grateful grin, "please." and they embraced. Kali's eyes watering slightly.

As they parted, they became face to face with a curious Dustin. He introduced himself with a bashful expression, "hi! I'm Dustin."

"Hello, Dustin," Kali greeted, "I'm Kali."

"It's wonderful to meet you," he nodded, "so El tells me you can make people see things. Like illusions. How does that work? I'm curious to-"

Before he could finish, Kali formed an illusion of a small, pocket-sized dragon to fly around Dustin's head. His eyes widened in glee as he attempted to grab it with his hands; chuckling joyously.

El beamed at her friend's joy. She turned her head slightly to see her dad approach them with a slight smile and a nod of his head. "So you're El's sister."