𝐙𝐄𝐑𝐎 ✯ steve harrington¹

𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐄𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐄𝐄𝐍 : back from the dead

WORD COUNT : 4.6k

"This just doesn't make sense," Nancy sighed, still unable to tear her eyes away from the blackened patch of carpet in the middle of the hallway. She was right, the monster disappearing into thin air didn't make sense. But it was just like Hopper had said. Anything they had previously viewed as logical needed to be tossed out the window. They just needed to decide what their next move was, despite all sense having been drained from their situation.

"None of this makes sense. I mean, what the hell was that thing? I still haven't gotten a clear answer," Steve reminded everyone, still wide-eyed and clutching the bat like his life depended on it. (And honestly, it might.)

"It's a long story that I'm pretty sure you're not ready for, Harrington," Owen said doubtfully, still trying to catch her breath from her place against the wall.

"Not ready? Did you, like, blink and miss me absolutely kicking that thing's ass? I feel like that makes me ready for just about anything at this point," he argued, indignantly.

"Okay, so you proved that you didn't just ride the bench during baseball season. Awesome," Owen grumbled sarcastically, waving her hands about in mocking celebration. "But that hardly qualifies you for understanding parallel dimensions and monsters," she deadpanned.

She wouldn't tell Steve this, but she barely even understood all that Gordon and the kids were talking about when it came to the science behind the Upside Down. She didn't want to have to put herself through the pain of explaining it to a guy that would never step within the four walls of a physics classroom.

"Oh, come on. You're seriously downplaying - Wait, parallel dimensions?" Steve's brows knitted together as her words finally clicked. This just caused Owen's eyes to roll skyward, allowing for her to catch sight of the single illuminated Christmas light overhead. Then, it became two colored lights. And then it was three. And so on, all leading closer to where they were standing in the hallway.

"Guys, what's going on with the lights," Owen pointed out, pushing off of the wall and bringing everyone's attention to the row of colorful lights blinking towards them. Jonathan let out a small gasp at the sight, his eyes glued to the spectacle. All four of the teens crept back down the hall towards Will's room, worried about what this could possibly mean. There was no way this monster was back for round three, right? They were so unprepared for another fight with that thing.

Eventually, the lights stopped flickering on, leaving just one red light lit over their heads. This prompted Steve to brandish the baseball bat yet again, his skill with the weapon being one of the group's only chances at survival. Still, Owen followed suit, tightening her grip on the crowbar. Everyone's eyes darted all around the hallway, from floor to ceiling, searching for any sign of the monster's return.

However, in a strange turn of events, the lights began to flash back on, trailing away from the group this time. Steve and Owen peeked over at one another, both wearing equally confused expressions. But Steve refocused his gaze towards the lights, hesitantly stepping forward to follow them into the Byers' living room. Owen inched along beside him, with Jonathan and Nancy trailing at their heels.

Each little light was leading the group towards the front door. Owen halted in the middle of the living room, unsure if she actually wanted to see what the lights were leading them towards. As she now knew, anything could be on the other side of the door. But this fact didn't stop Jonathan, who even stepped up beyond Steve and the protection of the baseball bat.

"Mom?" Owen was standing just close enough to hear Jonathan's voice waver as he spoke. Her eyebrows shot upwards, not sure if she heard him correctly. Sure, the lights were definitely behaving differently than when the monster had shown up. But he was able to tell that this was his mom? Without another word, Jonathan bolted towards the front door and threw it open. Seeing that there was nothing waiting for them on the front porch, the rest of the group followed behind him to step outside. Even the orange-toned streetlight at the end of the driveway was crackling with light.