Zero: A Stranger Things Fanfiction

Chapter 007

The setting sun was both foreboding and unwelcome.

The trees had passed them by long ago, replaced by dying grass and an onset of rusted vehicles. A few scraggly bushes reached out, sparse fingers clawing at the exhausted party. Dustin still marched in the lead, eyes set on the compass in his hand. But along with weariness, animosity had crept into the group.

Dustin stopped jarringly. Jenna, who had been marching along with El since their half-baked conversation, swiftly caught up with the other three. Caught up in time to hear Dustin mutter "oh no". She strode ahead to his side.

"What?"

"We're headed back home." He was greeted by a chorus of questioning exclamations, Lucas's the loudest per usual.

"Are you sure!?"

"Yeah, I'm sure. Setting sun, right there." He pointed at the space between Mike and Lucas where, sure enough, the golden sun was melting, pouring into the stake-like trees. "We looped right back around."

"And you're just realizing this now!?"

"To be fair, nobody else noticed," Jenna noted, sure that it wouldn't make the slightest difference to Lucas.

"Yeah, why is this all on me!?" Dustin's tone was one of hurt, considering he'd overworked all day to lead them on an intrepid circular journey.

"Because you're the compass genius!"

"What do yours say?"

Jenna, mentally appreciating Dustin not instigating further argument, slid her compass from her tight jean pocket.

"North," she replied, in unison with Mike and Lucas. She sighed, forcing her hair back into the ponytail it desperately didn't want to stay in.

"Makes no damn sense," she hissed to herself, slowly turning in a circle and taking in the dumping ground for defunct cars. Dustin was completely right. They were heading straight back to where they started.

"Maybe the gate moved," Mike reasoned after a moment.

"No, I don't think it's the gate." Dustin searched their surroundings with a confused, roving stare. "I think it's something else screwing with the compasses."

"Maybe it's something here!" Mike gestured vaguely at the broken down vehicles, clearly grasping at straws.

"No, it has to be like a super magnet," Jenna said, sad to burst his bubble.

"It's not a magnet." Lucas's voice was so quiet and leaden, it was barely discernable. Jenna focused back on him as he turned, slow, cold fury accentuating his movements. He jabbed a finger at Eleven, still standing a few feet away. "She's been acting weirder than normal! If she can slam doors with her mind, she can definitely screw up a compass!"

Jenna crossed back over, standing close enough to Lucas to hear the way his breathing had quickened in anger.

"Why would she do that?"

"Because she's trying to sabotage our mission! Because she's a traitor!" He started towards El, his footfalls slow and methodical. Jenna's heartbeat began to race, a warning.

"Lucas, what are you doing?"

"Lucas stop!"

Jenna and Mike's shouts were completely ignored. Lucas kept moving, the expression on El's face growing more and more miserable with each step of his feet.

"You did it, didn't you? You don't want us to reach the gate. You don't want us to find Will."

Mike grabbed Jenna's sleeve, pulling her along with him as he hurried to Eleven's side. She matched his pace, the way things were falling apart were enough to genuinely worry her.