We can be Heroes - Stranger Things

Chapter 10: You Can Run, But You Can't Hide

Dark, gloomy, haunting: the journey through the Upside Down was treacherous. Steve had narrowly escaped the wrath of a hungry demodog, thanks to Dustin pulling him to safety. And Nancy had to constantly check through the binoculars; making sure that there was no danger ahead of them. They were all on edge; not wanting to step into any kind of hazardous situation. Not again.

The trio made their way to Hawkins Lab; following Lucas' plan. They had to be close now, Nancy thought dismally. They had walked for what felt like hours.

"Hey, careful," Steve held her arm gently as she tripped over a tree root.

She smiled in reply; readjusting her grip on her shotgun. Remembering what Robin said to her: to talk to both Jonathan and Steve, she glanced up at her friend.

He smiled before swiftly dragging Dustin away from a large hole in the ground. He had definately changed for the better, Nancy noted proudly; chuckling slightly at the pair in front of her.

She tapped him on the shoulder, clearing her throat, "so, um... Steve."

He looked at her with a knowing smile, "hey."

"So, I feel like we need to talk..." she started; fiddling with the hem of her shirt.

"It's alright, Nance. I know." He stopped her with an understanding tone. "I know."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah," he smiled softly. "You and Jonathan are good together, anyway. I... I wouldn't want to mess that up."

Nancy stared down at the floor. "Steve-"

"It's okay, Nance," he reassured her kindly. "It's okay."

Since Jonathan's arrival back in Hawkins, Steve knew he and Nancy weren't to be. He was certain by the way the couple embraced each other like they never wanted to be pulled apart. He loved Nancy and he was happy that she was happy.

He walked over to Dustin, slinging his arm over his shoulder with a small sigh. "Hey man, you okay?"

He nodded, sniffling slightly. Steve noticed his tense form and frowned, "Eddie... he'll... he'll be okay. Will made it. Eddie will too."

Dustin wiped his eyes with the sleeve of his shirt. "Yeah..."

Steve's heart ached at the empty expression his friend wore. Deciding it best to cheer him up, he pointed to the weapon he held in his fist.

"So an axe, huh? That's your weapon of choice?"

Dustin smiled, admiring it in his hands. "Yeah, what do you think?"

"Yeah, you look great."

"Like a warrior."

Steve raised an eyebrow but nodded nonetheless. "...sure."

Dustin beamed as he stared at his reflection in the metal. "Hey, you know-"

His words were drowned out by the ear-splitting cry of a monster's roar. The demogorgon didn't sound like that, Nancy noted with trepidation.

The trio swiftly turned to the direction of the unfamilar noise. Their jaws dropped at the sight before them: eyes wide and brows raised.

"Holy shit..." Nancy leaned against a tree.

"What the actual f-" Dustin dropped his axe.

Steve hung his head back in frustration. "You have got to be shitting me."

Stood proudly before them was a creature like no other. Steve was pretty sure he had peed himself a little, staring at the frightening beast.

A blanket of gore and slime hung over it's gargantuan body. It's skin: an armour of greenish-yellow. Claws, the size of motorbikes, scratched deep gashes into the hard dirt. The most notable feature of the creature was it's three heads that prowled the sky on long, thick necks. It had no eyes. No ears. No nose. Just petals of teeth. A heavy slug-like tail demolished any object in it's path as the monster lumbered towards it's destination.