don't fear the reaper

chapter 8: final showdown

"El, honey I need to go help my parents find Will, that thing that almost got my Mom, it's still in there okay? I need to kill it before it gets to my family, to Will." She pressed her hands to El's cheeks, holding her head. "I'll be back okay?"

"Promise?"

"I promise baby."

—

The three teens flew out of Jonathan's car grabbing everything they'd bought earlier that day, they covered the entire Byers house in traps. Nancy and Al loaded their guns as Jonathan finished a nail covered bat.

"I get the last shot." Allison didn't look up.

"What?" Nancy looked at the girl.

"I kill it. It almost killed me, I finish it." They didn't say a word. "Deal?" She screamed at the two teens staring her down, they nodded. "Good."

—

The knife hit Al's skin and split it.

Blood to draw the beast.

They sat in silence for what felt like hours before the swing outside creaked.

"What was that?" Nancy looked up.

"It's just the wind." Jonathan did his best to reassure her as Allison paced around the room bar in hand and gun in her pocket.

BANG BANG BANG

The door.

"You guys think the demogorgon knocks?"

"Jonathan?"

You're fucking kidding me. Harrington? Again? I'm gonna kill him this time.

"Are you there, man? It's... it's Steve!" Allison whipped around to look at her friends.

"You've got to be shitting me."

"Listen, I just wanna talk!"

Fuck it.

Allison slid the lock open and opened it a crack.

"Hey Al." He was bloodied and bruised, her handiwork.

"Steve. Listen to me. You need to leave."

"I'm not trying to start anything, okay?"

"I don't fucking care, you need to leave."

"No, no, no. Listen, I messed up, okay? I really messed up, I messed up with Nancy and you. Really please. I just wanna make things right." She'd never seen him look so serious and in pain. "Please-" He stopped, noticing the haphazard bandage on her hand. "Hey, what happened to your hand? Is that blood?" He reached his hand up trying to take hers but she pulled away.

"Nothing happened Harrington, it was an accident okay?"

"Yeah, what's going on? Is Nancy okay?" Of course Nancy this, Nancy that.

"Nothing, she's fine."

"Wait a sec. Did he do this to you?"

"No! Steve, why do you care? Get out!"

"Allison let me in!" She fought to keep him out but being drained from the fight earlier let him win, pushing past her.

"No, no! Steve, stop!"

Fuck.

There he stood face to face with Jonathan and Nancy, with the nail covered bat in full view.

"What is... What the..."

"You need to get out of here." Jonathan began pushing him back.

"Woah. What is all-"