Twenty-Five

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Hawkins, Indiana

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Hawkins, Indiana

November 1984

。.✦ ☾

Byers Household

。.✦ ☾

Jeffery carried an unconscious Will out of the shed while Hopper hustled them out. Joyce made her way to the house, her hands shaking as she struggled to open the door, her heart stuck to her throat. Hopper stopped to grab a few weapons from the table, making his way through the house.

Hopper orders everyone away from the windows. Hopper turns to Jonathan, holding up a rifle. "Do you know how to use this?" Hopper asks "What?" Jonathan asks

"Can you use this?" Hopper asks again, raising his voice. "Uh." Jonathan stutters, that's until Nancy and Darian step forward. "I can." Nancy and Darian state, both meeting each other's gaze.

Growing up, Darian was taken to the shooting range, his dad wanted to make a man out of him. He was always told he was too feminine, so their father thought a gun would set him straight. "Good." Hopper breaths, grabbing a second gun and throwing them both at the Wheeler kids.

Steve steps up beside them, holding up his bat covered in nails, shifting it in his hands.

Everyone held their breath.

Every screech from the creatures rattled Darian's bones as he brought up his gun, pointing ahead of him. The metal felt cool beneath his fingers, unused and ready for him. He didn't miss it. This is power mankind shouldn't have.

Nancy and Darian had different relationships with the weapon. Darian hated it while Nancy appreciated the deadly weapon. But at this moment, he's going to push aside his fear and disgust. He's going to protect his family.

"Where are they?" Max asks, standing behind Lucas as he pulls back the band on his slingshot. It would've amused Darian, but now wasn't the time to laugh.

There was a loud thudding in the distance, making everyone exclaim and whip around. "What are they doing?" Nancy asks, her breathing becoming rougher and less controlled. Steve slowly inches closer, eyes hard as he stares at the window.

There was a rustling within the bushes. Joyce clutched at her eldest son. Jeffery had both of his hands on his mother's arms, keeping them both steady.

There was snarling at the other end of the house, everyone whirls around.

Suddenly the screeching stops, halting everyone's breaths in anticipation. Something suddenly slams into the window, making everyone exclaim. Hopper inches closer, keeping his gun steady. Others follow after him, some more hesitant. "Holy shit." Dustin breathes "Is it dead?" Max asks

Everyone was making their way closer, inspecting the demo-dog.

Hopper lifts his foot and he nudges the monster's slimy head, not getting a reaction.

Suddenly there was movement from behind the entrance door, making everyone turn. The lock turns, making everyone raise their weapons in defense. The top lock slides off. Hopper moves forward.

The door creaks open. Slowly, Eleven steps through the door, looking different, darker. Everyone stares in shock, lowering their weapons. Mike was the first to move, slowly making his way past the party, his face filled with hope and shock.

He knew it, he always knew it. Eleven stares back at him, relief on both their faces as a smile stretches along their lips. A small trail of blood leaks from the young girl's nose.

She saved them.

"Eleven." Mike breaths

Eleven softly laughs and they both reach for the other, hugging tightly.

Darian couldn't help but tear up, he missed the twerp, she was strange but she brought love to Mikes stone cold heart. His brother was an asshole, but he was different when he was around the shaved-headed girl.

The two cry in one another's arms.

Max turns to Lucas. "Is that..." Max trails off, afraid to break the silence. Lucas and Dustin nod.

Mike was the first to pull away and smile at El. "I never gave up on you. I called you every night. Every night for -" "353 days." El finishes, smiling through her tears. Mike stares at her with awe. "I heard." El says

"Why didn't you tell me you were there? That you were okay?" Mike asks "Because I wouldn't let her." Hopper interjects his gaze on the small girl.

"The hell is this? Where have you been?" Hopper asks "Where have you been?" El asks, just as upset as Hopper. The taller male pulls his surrogate daughter into a hug, more relieved than upset.

"You've been hiding her." Mike says, coming to a realization. Everyone turns to stare at Hopper. "Hop." Darian breathes, confused. "You've been hiding her this whole time!" Mike yells, shoving Hopper. Mike whirls around, angry. "Hey!" Hopper exclaims, grabbing the front of Mike's shirt. "Let's talk." Hopper orders "alone." He finishes

Mike only glares, letting him be shoved forward.

Darian only turns to El, smiling and laughing. El returns the grin and she runs into his arms. "Hey, little witch." Darian whispers "Hey Mop head." El giggles making Darian chuckle.

"I missed you so much." Darian mumbles "Me too." El states, her body melting into his hold. She was so tired.

Suddenly Lucas and Dustin shove their way into the hug, making Darian and El laugh. "We missed you so much?" Lucas mumbles, "I missed you too." El replies "We talked about you pretty much everyday." Dustin states

The four pull away. Darian backs off to leave the kids alone, letting them talk.

Steve gently grabs hold of Darian's wrist, meeting his gaze. "Are you okay?" Steve asks, making Darian smile. "More than okay, the kid is alive. My brother can finally take that stick out of his ass." Darian chuckles

Steve smirks in amusement.

"Eleven." Max calls out, making everyone turn and look towards her. "Hey. Um, I'm Max." Max says, holding out her hand with a small smile. "I've heard a lot about you." Max says

El ignores her hand and she walks past the ginger, eyes hard. Max's smile falls.

The young girl makes her way towards Joyce and the two fall into a hug. "Hey, sweetheart." Joyce whispers

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