KAS The Bloody Handed

Max Is Awake!

Your POV

Hopper and Wayne had left about an hour ago to go and gather some supplies for everyone... food, drinks, ammunition.. ya know, the normal stuff. Eddie, Kali and El carried on practicing their manipulation powers. They had picked it up so easily, and it didn't seem to drain their powers or energy too quickly. They left the rest of you alone for now and decided to manipulate other things. There was lights switching on and off, chairs floating around the room, and they even went outside and manipulated a wild rabbit into thinking it was a household pet... like a cat. Or at least, they made it act like one. You were sat on the ground outside the cabin and this rabbit waltzed right on up to you, hopped into your lap and started headbutting and nuzzling your arm. It took you by surprise until you realised it was Eddie forcing the little thing into doing it. You smiled his way and told him that as cute as it was... you would rather it was him on your lap. That made him laugh and release his hold on the rabbit. The poor thing was so confused and bounded off as quickly as it could.

When Hopper and Wayne returned, they handed out little food packages to everyone. Hopper wasn't happy that some of you had been outside.. he reminded you that there were gates open in Hawkins and Demo dogs running free. Just because you hadn't had another run in yet did not mean you were safe. It was understandable for him to be so on edge.. but he also seemed to forget that you had three very powerful friends with you. Whilst they had driven around town, they had kept their eyes peeled for any creatures that could be lurking, but again, everything was eerily quiet.
Everyone packed up to leave; Hopper asked that a few of you went to the hospital to be with Max and Lucas... there was news that her mom had made the decision to turn off her life support in two days and you should all go and say your goodbyes. It was then that Eddie revealed what he saw in the Upside Down. El was absolutely furious with him, but calmed down when she realised that ultimately there was nothing they could do to save her there.
"Wait, if she's in the Upside Down... and her body is still here, if Vecna is killed.. maybe she can come back?" Mike suggested to the group. It was a real possibility, and it was that theory that set another plan in place.

Hopper, Wayne, El, Kali and Eddie left with compass in hand to find another gate. The rest of you rushed to the hospital to be with Max and Lucas and try to distract her mom and doctors in any way possible. As you arrived at the hospital you couldn't help but feel that something was off. You made your way up to the ward and there seemed to be a big commotion. Doctors were rushing about in a panic and not a single one would stop to tell you what was going on. You rushed to Max's room, hoping and praying that they hadn't switched off the life support early... but what you found was an empty room. What the hell?
"Dustin? Mike?" Came a voice from behind you. It was Lucas. He'd been crying. Oh no.
"What's going on Lucas? Tell us it hasn't happened yet..." you croaked out. He shook his head.
"She's gone.. I only left for an hour to go home and shower, and when I came back, she was gone" he explained, "no-one can tell me where she is, it's like she woke up and walked off". There was a red alert buzzing around the hospital as Max's mom had also disappeared. They think she stole Max's body so as to avoid letting her go. The police had been called and when they arrived they wanted to question all your friends. No one had any information or any idea on what had happened, but the police were suspicious of you all. After two hours of investigation the police left and you and your friends didn't know what to do. The best bet was to go back to Mikes and wait... again. Feeling utterly useless you all left the hospital.

Mikes Basement

"Somethings not right..." whispered will as you started making your way down the stairs into the basement.
"What do you me—" you started but was cut off by a crashing sound below.
"Who's there?!" Shouted Steve, grabbing the closest thing to him to use as a weapon.
"Wooooahhhh, calm it there Steve" came a croaky voice.. a very recognisable croaky voice. MAX!
You all rushed down the stairs towards her.
"Max?" Questioned Lucas as he burst into tears, "I thought you were gone...".
"Can't get rid of me that easily" she smiled back.
"Bu-but how?" He replied.
"I don't know... I woke up and my Mom was there... I asked her not to call the doctors, I begged for her to get me out of there... I just knew they would want to prod and probe me.. but there's bigger things at stake here, I knew I had to help you guys and so I came here" she responded.. almost robotically.
Ok... something was definitely off. You glanced at Will and saw that he was sweating.. and rubbing the back of his neck.
"Why so nervous will?" Max inquired, also noticing his behaviour.
"Um.. um.. I can feel HIM here.. again.. something's wrong" he nervously replied.
"Will, I've been in the Upside Down for over a year... maybe there's still some kind of connection there? You don't need to worry about me, I'm here to help you" she soothed. It did nothing to ease Wills nervousness.. but she had a point.
"So where's El? I'd love to see her!" Max asked, looking around the group.
"Oh, well so much has happened recently.. she's actually gone with Hop—" Mike started.
"She's gone on a fishing trip with Hopper" Will interjected. Mike threw him a 'what the hell' look. Will just sent a look back that said 'go with it'. He really didn't trust her.
"Oh. Ok... so tell me what's happened the past year" Max replied as she made herself comfortable on the floor, motioning for everyone to join her. There was something in the air... a sort of unease... and it was palpable. Lucas took the reigns on filling Max in about the last year, with Will interrupting and making up side stories along the way. This was weird.

Eddie's POV

It didn't take long to find another gate. The compass led them back towards Eddie's old caravan home... and sure enough, the gate that had appeared last year was back. It looked exactly the same.. as if it never disappeared. Hopper gave everyone a leg up towards the gate, and once everyone was through he ran and jumped.
"I say we head straight to the Creels house" El decided once they were on the other side. Hopper agreed; it was better to head straight for that monstrosity rather than baiting him out. Hopper and Wayne's guns were locked and loaded, Eddie had his sword in his right hand and his shield in the other. The girls had a firm invisibility shield covering the group and off they went. They followed the same path as before... through the trees and past the warehouse. It was quiet... too quiet. They didn't come across any demo dogs, demogorgans or other creatures until they were outside the Creels house.
Swarms of demo bats were circling the house, so much so that they covered every inch of it... there was no way to make it through the door.
"How are we gonna get in?" Whispered Wayne.
"Girls?" Hopper questioned. At that the girls summoned their powers and went to blast the bats.
"Stop!" Insisted Eddie, "what about moving them away? Making them focus on something else? If you blast them they're gonna come for us.. you need to reserve your power. Think about what I did with that rabbit".
The girls knew what he meant. The manipulation. And it was easy. Too easy. Together, they forcefully made the bats move away from the Creels front door... only a small cluster of them, but it was enough for the group to get through. The bats simply glided away and joined the swarm above the house instead. With the invisibility cloak firmly wrapped around them, they made their way towards the house. Armed and ready, they pushed on the door. It creaked open with a loudness that was enough to alert Vecna to their presence.