Zero: A Stranger Things Fanfiction

Chapter 005

The way home didn't seem real.

Starlight and muted nighttime whispers pooled in Jenna's vision, the wind pushing her wild curls from her face. Her bike rambled along, spokes spinning quickly. To be completely honest, it was muscle memory that took her back to the Wheelers' house. All she was really aware of was the grasp of Eleven's arms, holding on desperately, fingers curling around the edges of her fur lined coat.

Images of the night faded in and out, replaced by the decomposed body of Will Byers. Will. Jesus. That sweet, adorable little boy, who had made her care packages when she had fevers and drew her the most beautiful pictures when her birthday came along. She brushed her face with the palm of her hand, blinking rapidly to hold it together.

Mike's home was alight with a warm glow, comforting to Jenna as she pulled to a halt outside of the basement door. Gently propping the kick stand up, she dismounted and held El's hand as she got off too.

Wrapped tightly in Mike's coat, the girl was a pitiful sight. Jenna held onto her hand, guiding her towards the door. She paused before opening it. There was no issue with getting in; Karen Wheeler seldom locked that door. Apparently, there was no fear of robbers on Maple Street.

Jenna turned to Eleven, who gazed up at her in a haze of exhaustion and confusion. It felt as though a fragment of Jenna's heart broke off, looking down at her. Slowly, to make sure the girl wasn't afraid, Jenna pulled El into a hug, cradling her shaven head in her hands.

Eleven nestled straight into her coat, taking one of those long, shuddering breaths that comes after you cry. Jenna had no idea how long it lasted, only that she was reluctant to let El go. There was a split second where she considered telling Eleven the truth. She's been through enough tonight. You can let her go. Let her go.

Jenna settled on attempting a sad smile and turned the doorknob.

"If you need anything at all, just use that walkie of Mike's you like so much. Day or night, you can call me. Okay?"

"Yes." El's answer was no more than a breath, barely audible over the wind. Jenna turned the knob and held the door open for Eleven, who carefully entered and crawled into her fort. Jenna closed it as quietly as possible, her hand resting on the knob for an eternal moment. But she didn't stay.

It was time to go home.

---

Jenna sat in a crumpled mess on the closed toilet, head in her hands. Everything was still. Everything was quiet. Much as it had been last night, soaring down moonlit trails with Eleven holding onto her back.

Her knee bounced violently, slightly shaking her entire body. It would probably bite her in the ass to miss second period, but sitting and listening to Mr. McDaniel drone on and on made her feel like she was going to puke. Her fingers curled around her hair, pulling on her head.

Things had been normal just three days ago. Shitty, sure, but normal. Now Will Byers was dead, her phone was ripped out her wall, she hadn't seen Barb at school in days, and another lab experiment was sitting in tears in Mike Wheeler's basement. Good God. She had thought they were joking when they said junior year sucked.

"Jenna!? Jenna, are you there!?"

A staticky voice arose, muffled, from her bag. Flattening her hair back down, she got onto her knees and dug through the mess until finding the walkie.

"Jennnnnnaaaaaaa! Earth to Jenna!" Dustin. She cracked a weak grin and put the walkie to her face.

"What's going on, snot?" She slid onto the floor and leaned against the stall door.