Alexithymia | STRANGER THINGS [DISCONTINUED]

eight | the upside down

While quickly making his way back into the gymnasium, Mike said, "They're gone."

In turn, Lucas said, "What?"

Mike told them, "Nancy and Jonathan. His car's gone."

Dustin replied, "They're probably just sucking face somewhere."

In turn, Lucas said, "Gross."

Then Mike said, "No. No way!"

Dustin asked him, "Did they go with the chief?"

Mike replied, "I don't know."

It was then that El looked over at Mike and said to him, "No."

Mike asked her, "What? Did you see them? Do you know where they went?"

El replied, "Yes."

Mike asked her, "Where? Where did they go?"

After a couple seconds of silence, El told him, "Demogorgon."

After silently looking between the group of twelve-year-olds, Matthew asked him, "Um, am I the only one here that doesn't know what the fuck a Demogorgon is?" After seeing the way that they were all looking at him at that exact moment, he said with a raise of his eyebrows, "Never mind. I guess I am."

* * *

While El sat on the bleachers with her legs pressed up against herself and her arms wrapped around both of her legs, she looked between the two Wheeler brothers.

One of the Wheeler brothers was sitting just beside her with his arms crossed over his chest and his head tilted to the side, while the other was standing with his two friends and yelling, "Guys, guys! This is crazy. We can't just wait around."

Lucas replied, "Mike, in case you forgot, we're still fugitives. The bad men are still looking for us."

Then Dustin told Mike, "Yeah, and we don't even know where your sister is."

With a wave of his hand, Mike said, "El can find them."

With a wave of his own hand, Dustin replied, "Mike, look at her." While Mike turned to look at El, Dustin told him, "I still think we should stick to the chief's plan."

With a nod of his head, Lucas said, "Exactly. We stay here, keep El out of sight and keep her safe. That's the most important thing, remember? Besides, she's okay. She's with Jonathan."

Then Dustin said to Mike, "Yeah, and she's kind of a badass now, so... I mean, not like your brother's level of a badass, but still a badass, if you really think about it."

As soon as Dustin turned his back on them and started to walk away from them, Mike asked him, "Well, where are you going? You just said stick to the plan!"